Hungary and Romania halt nuclear reactors as Danube water levels drop
Severe drought and falling Danube water levels have forced Romania and Hungary to shut down nuclear power plants, straining energy supplies across the region.
Hungary and Romania have begun taking nuclear power plants offline as a severe drought drives Danube River water levels to historic lows.
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 critical cooling water shortages. The decision follows operator Nuclearelectrica's shutdown of both reactors at Romania's Cernavodă facility, marking the first time in history that Romania's sole nuclear plant has halted operations completely because of drought.
The dropping water levels along the Danube have also reduced hydroelectric power generation in neighboring Serbia, where temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius. Romanian authorities have asked the public to cut electricity usage to avoid reliance on natural gas and costly imports as heatwaves persist.
Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, 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
- Der Standard — Rumänien fährt wegen Niedrigwasser in der Donau Atomreaktoren herunter
- Point — Впервые в истории из-за засухи Румыния остановит оба реактора АЭС «Чернаводэ»
- ORF — Ungarn nimmt AKW Paks vom Netz
Earlier coverage
- Jul 30, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCDrought forces nuclear shutdowns in Hungary and Romania as Danube reaches record low
- 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