By Abbas Nazil
Hungary will shut down its only nuclear power plant for the first time in its 44-year history after record-low water levels on the Danube River made it impossible to safely cool the facility, raising concerns over electricity supply and the wider impacts of Europe’s worsening climate crisis.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced that the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which generates nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, would be completely powered down on Sunday as the Danube continued to recede because of prolonged drought and extreme heat.
The government said the plant’s electricity output had already fallen sharply from its normal capacity of about 2,000 megawatts to 965 megawatts on Friday before dropping to just 240 megawatts overnight, reflecting the growing operational challenges caused by insufficient cooling water.
Located south of Budapest, the Soviet-built nuclear facility relies on water drawn from the Danube River to cool its four reactors.
Authorities explained that the river has fallen to levels where the plant’s intake pumps can no longer draw enough water to maintain safe operations.
Officials said a river level of minus 134 centimetres at Paks requires a complete shutdown, while forecasts indicate the water level could fall to minus 144 centimetres, surpassing the previous record low of minus 98 centimetres recorded in 2018.
The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, has experienced exceptionally low water levels after months of intense heat and below-average rainfall across much of the continent.
The drought has affected several countries along the river’s course from Germany to the Black Sea, disrupting transportation, agriculture, tourism and industrial activities.
In response to the worsening water shortage, Hungarian authorities have placed more than 100 towns and villages under water-use restrictions.
The government has also appealed to industries with high water demand to voluntarily reduce consumption in an effort to preserve available water resources and ease pressure on the country’s shrinking river systems.
The shutdown of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant has raised fears of an energy shortage because the facility supplies almost half of Hungary’s electricity needs.
Government officials warned that the country could face significant energy challenges if river conditions do not improve quickly.
Neighbouring Slovakia has expressed readiness to assist if necessary.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his government is closely monitoring developments and stands prepared to support Hungary as the situation evolves.
Europe has endured repeated heatwaves since May, with scientists describing this year’s conditions as among the most severe ever recorded across the continent.
Climate experts say prolonged high temperatures and persistent drought have intensified pressure on rivers, reservoirs and energy infrastructure throughout Europe.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution initiative have linked the unprecedented heat affecting Europe to human-induced climate change, noting that rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Scientists warn that as climate change accelerates, critical infrastructure such as power plants that depend on reliable water supplies may face increasing operational risks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger climate adaptation measures and resilient energy systems.
