Drought forces nuclear shutdowns in Hungary and Romania as Danube reaches record low
Historic low Danube water levels have forced nuclear plant shutdowns in Hungary and Romania, while hydroelectric output drops across the region.
Record-low water levels along the Danube River have severely disrupted power generation across Central and Southeastern Europe. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the Paks nuclear power plant will be fully disconnected from the grid within 24 to 72 hours due to insufficient cooling water. The plant operator confirmed the water level near Paks dropped 121 centimeters below its previous record low.
In Romania, operator Nuclearelectrica temporarily shut down both reactors at the Cernavodă nuclear plant, marking the first complete halt in the facility's history driven by severe drought. Romanian authorities have asked the public to conserve electricity to reduce reliance on natural gas and energy imports.
The severe conditions have also curtailed hydroelectric production in Austria and Serbia, where temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius.
Sources: Die Zeit, HRT Vijesti, ORF, Point, Sweden Herald
Sources
- Sweden Herald — Low Danube levels force Romanian nuclear power plant shutdowns
- Die Zeit — Atomkraft: Rumänien schaltet weiteren Reaktor wegen Niedrigwassers ab
- Point — Впервые в истории из-за засухи Румыния остановит оба реактора АЭС «Чернаводэ»
- ORF — Ungarn nimmt AKW Paks vom Netz
- HRT Vijesti — Rekordno nizak vodostaj Dunava smanjuje proizvodnju električne energije
Earlier coverage
- Jul 30, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCHungary and Romania halt nuclear reactors as Danube water levels drop
- Jul 30, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCRomania shuts down second nuclear reactor as Danube water levels plunge
- Jul 30, 2026, 12:30 AM UTCLow Danube water levels disrupt nuclear and hydro power in Eastern Europe