Danube Drought Forces Hungary Nuclear Plant to Cut Capacity

The Danube River has reached record-low water levels due to extreme heat and prolonged drought, significantly impacting nuclear power operations in Hungary. As of Wednesday morning, the Paks nuclear power plant—supplying nearly half of Hungary's electricity—had three of its four reactors offline, with one operating at approximately 50% power.

The Soviet-era reactors rely on the Danube for cooling, but low water levels have caused suction nozzles to lose access to water. The Hungarian government has urged citizens to reduce energy use during peak hours and ordered large companies to cut power consumption. Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that the Paks plant could remain idle for weeks, straining the power grid and public services.

The crisis is expected to cost Hungary between 100 billion and 200 billion forints due to surging electricity import prices. The Danube's low water levels have also disrupted shipping and tourism, halting cargo ship operations in Hungary and canceling sightseeing cruises in Budapest. In Romania, the Cernavodǎ power plant has shut down one reactor unit and plans to shut down a second.

The river's receding waters have exposed historical artifacts, including old shipwrecks and sunken Nazi warships from World War II near Serbia. Dozens of German battleships, some still laden with weapons, have resurfaced in the Danube gorge. In Romania, authorities are building a temporary dyke to divert water to the Cernavodǎ plant.

The drought has affected other major rivers in Europe as well. The Rhine River in Germany fell to near record lows on Friday, forcing reductions in cargo capacity on vessels. The Netherlands has suffered from a water shortage since mid-July, leading to use restrictions across most of the country. Meanwhile, wildfires rage across Greece, with authorities battling major blazes west of Athens.

Authorities in Hungary and Romania have asked residents to reduce power consumption in the evenings as part of efforts to manage the energy crisis. Prime Minister Magyar stated that voluntary cuts in power usage by households and more than 300 companies had reduced demand by 400MW, easing some pressure on the grid.

The Hungarian government has reported significant reductions in power consumption this week following a public appeal to ease pressure on the grid. Residents and businesses have voluntarily cut their power usage by 600 to 700 megawatts (MW) each day during peak hours, with temperatures expected to reach 40 to 42 degrees Celsius (104 to 108 Fahrenheit). The state railway has also suspended freight transport between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., saving an additional 60 to 90 MW daily.