Hungarian authorities have declared the next five days as critically important due to significantly low water levels in the Danube River, which have forced the suspension of three reactors at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Prime Minister Péter Magyar has urged both companies and citizens to reduce or shift their electricity consumption between 5 PM and 9 PM.
As of today, citizens and businesses have already managed to save approximately 700 megawatts of electricity, which is roughly equivalent to one and a half blocks of the Paks nuclear facility. This conservation effort comes as Hungary grapples with unprecedented low water levels, affecting the cooling systems of its nuclear reactors.
Previously, the ongoing crisis had prompted the shutdown of three reactors due to record-low Danube levels, according to reports from Telex. Prime Minister Magyar warned that if water levels fall to minus 134 cm, it would become impossible to safely cool the reactors. As of the evening, the water level is just 1 cm above this critical threshold.
Background
- The Paks Nuclear Power Plant generates nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, according to Reuters.
- On July 30, Magyar noted that the plant could face its first operational halt in over 40 years due to the unprecedented decline in Danube water levels.
