Lead

Hungary has fully shut down its sole nuclear power plant for the first time in its history, as record-low water levels in the Danube River left the facility unable to cool its reactors, according to officials and multiple reports. Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned of a potentially critical energy supply situation as a prolonged heatwave and drought continue to grip much of central and south-eastern Europe.

The Paks nuclear power plant, located about 120 km south of Budapest, accounts for roughly 40% of Hungary's electricity generation, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Magyar said the facility, which uses Danube water for cooling, had been operating at little more than a tenth of its capacity before being shut down.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from BBC News and The Guardian described the shutdown as a first for the Soviet-era plant, which has been operating for over four decades. BBC News quoted Magyar as saying Hungary's energy supply could become "critical" from Monday due to the shutdown and the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures expected to hover around 37°C for a week.

The Guardian offered additional detail on the late-night situation, quoting Magyar on social media saying that at around 1:30 a.m. the country came "within millimetres" of shutting down the plant when the water level stopped falling and then rose by 1.5 centimetres. The Guardian reported that the plant had been operating at a reduced capacity of just over 10% after the Danube fell to a record low, making proper cooling impossible.

The South China Morning Post also covered the shutdown, framing it as a major test for the economy and for the new prime minister, citing the plant's role in generating 40% of the country's electricity and the sustained drought across central Europe.

Key Claims

  • Causal factor: The shutdown was caused by record-low water levels in the Danube River, which left the plant's cooling system unable to function. BBC News reported that the water level was so low that the suction nozzles could not reach it, while The Guardian described the plant as coming "within millimetres" of a complete shutdown overnight before the water level rose slightly.
  • Energy supply warning: Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned of a critical energy supply situation from Monday, urging Hungarians to limit energy-intensive activities between 17:00 and 22:00, including charging electric cars and using air conditioning, as reported by BBC News. He also mentioned a possible "rotational shutdown regime" if other measures were insufficient to maintain grid balance, and said the government would compile a list of consumers whose usage could be limited.
  • Energy-saving measures: The Guardian reported that Energy Minister István Kapitány said a number of energy-saving measures had succeeded in lowering consumption to keep the grid secure. Examples included a grocery chain adjusting its baking shifts and turning off drink fridges despite temperatures nearing 40°C, and limiting electric car charger use until 5pm, as reported by HVG and cited in The Guardian's article.
  • Romania's situation: Romania has also faced challenges. BBC News reported that one of the country's two nuclear reactors at the Cernavodă plant had been shut down earlier in the week due to low Danube levels, and that state-owned company Nuclearelectrica was trying to avoid closing the second. The South China Morning Post reported that Romania had ordered a state of alert in the energy sector after reducing output at its own nuclear plant.
  • Controlled explosion: The Guardian reported that Romanian authorities celebrated a two-centimetre rise in water levels after a controlled explosion intended to divert the flow of the Danube to help cool the Cernavodă plant. Plans were reportedly made for further interventions, including sinking old barges to divert water flow.
  • Regional context: BBC News noted that the Danube had fallen to its lowest levels in 30 years in several countries, including Serbia and Romania, amid very low rainfall and high temperatures for much of the summer.

Perspectives

Hungarian government: Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned of a critical energy supply situation and called on citizens to reduce energy use during peak hours. He also raised the possibility of a rotational shutdown regime if necessary.

Romanian authorities: The government celebrated a slight rise in water levels following a controlled explosion to divert the Danube and help cool the Cernavodă nuclear plant, indicating an active effort to maintain operations despite the drought conditions.