Hungary is facing an unprecedented energy crisis as the Danube River hits record-low water levels, forcing the shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant for the first time in its 44-year history. The plant, located 120 kilometers south of Budapest, relies on Danube water for reactor cooling and supplies over 40% of Hungary’s electricity. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced the decision late Saturday, citing a further decline in the river’s water level, which has dropped to just 23 centimeters in Budapest—the lowest ever recorded, surpassing the previous 2018 record of 33 centimeters. The shutdown, scheduled for Sunday, comes amid scorching temperatures expected to exceed 38 degrees Celsius, creating what Magyar described as „the most critical five days” for the nation’s power grid.
The crisis stems from months of below-average rainfall and successive heat waves since May, which have pushed the Danube—a vital waterway flowing from Germany to the Black Sea—to historic lows. The Paks plant had already reduced output earlier in the week, and by Saturday, only one generating unit remained operational, producing just 240 megawatts. By Sunday, the plant will be completely offline, a scenario Magyar warns could persist for weeks if water levels fail to recover. This unprecedented closure is expected to strain Hungary’s power supply significantly, with the prime minister urging households, companies, and public institutions to cut or reschedule electricity use during evening peak hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The economic impact is already mounting, with imported electricity costs projected to rise by 120 billion to 240 billion forints ($315 million to $630 million) due to the plant’s idling. Magyar’s government plans to seek voluntary power reductions from large industrial users, with penalties for noncompliance, and has authorized grid operator MAVIR to mandate consumption cuts or temporarily disconnect major consumers if necessary. Households, however, will face restrictions last, according to the prime minister. The government will decide on Sunday whether to impose mandatory electricity limits on large companies starting Monday. This strategic move aims to mitigate the fallout from the nuclear plant’s closure while balancing the needs of essential services and the public.
Neighboring Serbia is experiencing similar challenges, as the heatwave has forced a significant reduction in hydroelectric generation. The Djerdap I and Djerdap II plants, which contribute about 18% of Serbia’s electricity, have seen output drop to just 20% and 30% of their capacities, respectively. Hydroelectric power accounts for nearly a third of Serbia’s energy mix, and with the Danube reaching historic lows in Belgrade, the country’s energy sector is under severe strain. These developments highlight the broader regional vulnerability to climate-induced water shortages, as prolonged heat and drought disrupt critical energy infrastructure across the Balkans. With no significant rainfall forecast and temperatures expected to remain high, both Hungary and Serbia face a precarious energy future in the coming weeks.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.dw.com/en/hungary-to-shut-sole-nuclear-plant-for-first-time-on-sunday/a-78205668.