Hungary PM announces closure of nuclear plant due to heatwave

Lead

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Saturday night that the country's only nuclear power plant, Paks, will be completely shut down for the first time in its 44-year history, citing record-low water levels in the Danube River. The decision, posted on social media, comes after months of heat and drought that have reduced the river's flow, impacting the plant's cooling systems.

The shutdown is scheduled to begin with the powering down of one of the last two generating units at 1:30 a.m., reducing output to 240 megawatts, before a full closure on Sunday. The plant, located south of Budapest, normally supplies a significant portion of Hungary's electricity—reports vary, with Al Jazeera saying nearly half, Deutsche Welle saying more than 40%, and The Hindu saying around a third.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement was covered by Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and The Hindu, with some variations in emphasis. Al Jazeera's report framed the shutdown as a climate change impact, highlighting the role of human-caused climate change in the unprecedented temperatures. Deutsche Welle focused on the energy crisis angle, mentioning potential costs of imported electricity. The Hindu described it as the latest stage in an energy crisis triggered by prolonged drought and extreme heat across Europe. France 24's coverage, available in video format, focused on the heatwave's impact on Europe's nuclear power plants.

Key Claims

Prime Minister Magyar's announcement, as reported by multiple outlets, followed a further drop in the Danube's water level. The plant, which uses water from the Danube for cooling, has had to reduce output as the river's level fell. According to Al Jazeera, output had fallen to 965 megawatts on Friday and then to 240 megawatts overnight, far below the normal 2,000 megawatts. The Hindu reported that a river level of minus 134 centimeters at Paks forces a full shutdown, and the level is expected to fall further.

Deutsche Welle reported that the Danube's water level in Budapest measured 23 centimeters on Wednesday morning, well below the previous record low of 33 centimeters set in 2018. The river has been affected by months of below-average rainfall and successive heatwaves since May. The low water levels have also led Hungary to place more than 100 cities and villages under water-use restrictions, and the government has asked large water users to voluntarily reduce consumption.

Magyar warned that the plant could remain offline for weeks and said the government would seek voluntary power cuts from large users, with penalties for noncompliance. The surge in imported electricity prices could cost Hungary between 120 billion and 240 billion forints, according to Tisza Party Vice Chairman Mark Radnai, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The shutdown has broader implications beyond Hungary. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country was "closely monitoring the energy situation" and was ready to help, as reported by Al Jazeera. The record-breaking climate event has also disrupted shipping, tourism, agriculture, and industry in Hungary, which was already facing sluggish growth.

The Paks plant, a Soviet-built, four-reactor facility, has been a cornerstone of Hungary's energy supply. Its full shutdown marks an unprecedented event in its history, highlighting the severe impact of the ongoing European heatwave and drought on critical infrastructure.