Hungary has completely shut down its only nuclear power plant, the Paks facility, for the first time since it began operations 44 years ago. This unprecedented closure, announced on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, is due to record low water levels in the Danube River, which have caused a shortage of cooling water necessary for the plant's reactors.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar reported that one of the two reactors was shut down early on Sunday, with the final reactor powering down later that day. The plant, located approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Budapest, typically provides 40 percent of Hungary's electricity generation but was operating at just over 10 percent of its 2,000 megawatt capacity before closure.

This shutdown marks a significant challenge for Hungary's energy supply and economy amid sustained drought conditions affecting much of central Europe. Neighboring Romania also declared a state of alert in its energy sector on the preceding Friday after reducing output at its own nuclear plant.

The ongoing drought has broader regional impacts, including wildfires in Greece, underscoring the wide-reaching effects of current climate conditions.

Sources