Low Danube water levels disrupt nuclear plants in Hungary and Romania
Record-low water levels on the Danube have forced Romania to shut down its Cernavoda nuclear plant, while Hungary plans river interventions to cool Paks.
Persistent drought and extreme heat across Europe have pushed the Danube River to historic lows, disrupting nuclear energy generation in Hungary and Romania. In Hungary, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that authorities plan structural engineering interventions to artificially raise the river's water level, aiming to maintain cooling operations at the Paks nuclear power plant. The facility is currently running at roughly 25 percent capacity, with only two of its eight turbines active.
Meanwhile, Romania is completely halting operations at its sole nuclear power plant in Cernavoda due to insufficient cooling water. The energy ministry confirmed the shutdown of the facility's second reactor, following the idling of the first reactor in late July.
Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, ORF
Sources
- ORF — Niedrigwasser: Ungarn will Donau für Akw künstlich anheben
- Der Standard — Ungarn will Donau für Atomkraftwerk Paks künstlich anheben
- FAZ — Hitze-Liveblog: Ungarn will Donau-Wasserstand zur Kühlung von Atomkraftwerk künstlich anheben
- Die Zeit — Dürre: Niedrige Donau: Rumänien schaltet AKW Cernavoda komplett ab
- DW — Niedrigwasser: Rumänien fährt sein Atomkraftwerk herunter