Hungary's Paks nuclear plant narrowly avoids shutdown amid severe Danube drought
Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant narrowly avoided a complete shutdown as low Danube water levels threatened cooling operations, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Tuesday that the country's sole nuclear power plant at Paks narrowly avoided a complete shutdown overnight due to critically low water levels in the Danube River. Magyar stated that authorities came "within millimetres" of halting operations around 1:30 a.m. before river levels began to stabilize.
By Tuesday afternoon, Magyar confirmed during a visit to the facility that Hungary's power grid remains stable, with Paks and the Százhalombatta thermal plant continuing to generate electricity. However, extreme heat and record-low river flows continue to strain regional energy supplies, disrupt Danube shipping, and cause agricultural damage across Southeastern Europe. Nearby Slovenia's nuclear facility continues operating at full capacity.
Sources: Balkan Insight, FAZ, France24, Telex, The Guardian
Sources
- The Guardian — Hungary comes ‘within millimetres’ of shutting down nuclear power plant amid drought crisis – Europe live
- France24 — Romania, Hungary, France... Europe's nuclear power plants tested by heatwave
- Telex — Energy situation in Hungary stable for now, Magyar says
- FAZ — Folgen der Dürre: So setzt die Hitze Ungarn unter Druck
- Balkan Insight — Hungary Narrowly Avoids Full Nuclear Shutdown; Slovenia Plant Still at Full Capacity
Earlier coverage
- Aug 10, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCHungary turns off landmark lighting as drought deepens energy crisis
- Aug 4, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCRomania uses explosives in Danube to maintain nuclear plant cooling
- Aug 3, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCLow Danube water levels trigger energy emergencies in Southeastern Europe