Hungary turns off landmark lighting as drought deepens energy crisis

Hungary has introduced energy-saving measures across the country as severe drought and heatwaves continue to strain power generation along the Danube River. In Budapest, authorities turned off night illumination for major landmarks, including the Parliament Building and Buda Castle, to reduce electricity consumption.

The energy conservation efforts follow forced output reductions at the Paks nuclear power plant, which relies on Danube water for cooling. Low river levels have also raised concerns among industrial manufacturers, including automotive facilities operated by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Newly appointed Energy Minister István Kapitány is overseeing emergency grid operations to manage supply risks. While neighboring countries such as Romania also face energy pressures, others in the region report stable reserves.

Sources: Der Standard, DW, FAZ, Industriemagazin, Tagesschau