Historic Drought Lowers Danube River, Threatening Paks Nuclear Plant

Historic low water levels in the Danube River, driven by prolonged European drought and heatwaves, have forced Hungary to take emergency measures to keep the Paks Nuclear Power Plant operational.

Key points

• Hungary began flooding two barges and building an underwater barrier using 5,000 metric tons of stone to raise water levels near the Paks plant's pumping station.
• The Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which produces about 40% of Hungary's electricity, is currently operating at only 485 megawatts out of its roughly 2,000-megawatt capacity.
• Romania previously halted its Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant further down the Danube due to the low water levels.
• Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that maintaining the idled Paks facility would cost at least 50 billion florints, or about $159 million, per month.

Why it matters

The severe low water levels of the Danube highlight critical vulnerabilities in regional energy infrastructure, threatening electricity generation and risking costly power imports for Hungary and neighboring nations.