Hungary’s sole nuclear power plant, the Paks facility located about 90 kilometers south of Budapest, will shut down for the first time in its 44-year history due to record-low water levels in the Danube River, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Currently operating at less than half its normal capacity—producing 965 megawatts instead of the usual 2,000—the plant relies on Danube water to cool its reactors. The exceptionally low river levels have compromised the pumps’ ability to supply sufficient cooling water.

At a press conference held at the plant, Magyar said further output reductions were imminent later that day, with a full shutdown likely by Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week. He emphasized that the shutdown will be conducted safely and poses no risk to the public or environment.

The Soviet-built, four-reactor Paks plant generates nearly half of Hungary’s electricity. If powered down, this will mark the first complete shutdown in its four decades of operation. The plant may remain offline for several weeks as the Danube’s water levels are expected to continue declining.

Sources

South China Morning Post World, Agence France-Presse Read more