Hungary’s sole nuclear plant shut down as Danube drought cuts cooling water
Executive summary: Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant was taken offline due to insufficient cooling water from the Danube River amid a European heatwave. The loss of baseload generation raises Hungary’s dependence on electricity imports and highlights vulnerabilities in Europe’s energy supply during extreme weather.
Who is involved: Hungarian government, the Paks plant operator (MVM), regional electricity markets and neighboring exporters.
Likely next: Authorities will monitor Danube levels; the plant may resume once water rises, while Hungary may accelerate alternative supply contracts or investments in cooling infrastructure.
Extreme heat and low water levels in the Danube forced Hungary to halt operations at its only nuclear power plant, Paks. The shutdown removes a significant baseload source from the national grid, increasing the country’s reliance on electricity imports. Market analysts warn that prolonged low river levels could keep the plant offline, affecting regional power prices and energy security.
Timeline
- — Hitze: Niedrigwasser in der Donau – Ungarn fährt Atomkraftwerk Paks herunter (Handelsblatt)
Sources
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