Hungary’s government announced Friday that the Paks nuclear power plant—the country’s sole facility of its kind—will shut down entirely by Tuesday or Wednesday due to record-low water levels on the Danube River, which supplies cooling water for its reactors.
The shutdown follows a severe heatwave that has gripped Europe, reducing the Danube to its lowest levels in three decades and forcing the plant to operate at less than half its normal capacity since mid-July. Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated the facility may remain offline for several weeks as water levels continue to recede.
-- Immediate impacts on energy and infrastructure --
The Paks plant, a Soviet-era facility with four reactors, typically generates 40% of Hungary’s annual electricity. Its operator confirmed the shutdown is “unavoidable”, though Magyar emphasized it would be conducted safely with no risk to the public or environment. The plant’s output has already dropped from 2,000 megawatts to 965 megawatts as pumps struggle to draw sufficient water from the shrinking river.
Beyond Hungary, the Danube’s low water levels have disrupted commercial shipping and exposed century-old wrecks, including a Nazi warship in Serbia and a 1937 cargo ship in Croatia. The European Investment Bank estimates 200 ships lie submerged along the river, posing risks to navigation. Serbia spends approximately £4.3 million annually to clear debris, a cost that may rise with the current drought.
-- Broader environmental and historical consequences --
The Danube’s record lows have also forced Romania to shut down one of its nuclear reactors and announce the closure of a second, while Hungary’s national water authority reported unprecedented measurements in Budapest. Scientists attribute the extreme heat and drought to human-driven climate change, which has intensified wildfires and strained water resources across the continent.
In Bulgaria, receding waters revealed ancient mammoth remains, including a lower jaw, tusks, and a rib, near the village of Ryahovo. Local historians and museum officials are conducting tests to confirm the discovery, which adds to the list of relics uncovered by the drought.
-- Regional responses and warnings --
The Republic Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia issued a ‘severe’ weather warning as temperatures reached 35°C (95°F) and are expected to climb further. Magyar warned the heatwave could make Hungary’s energy supply “critical” starting Monday, though he did not specify contingency measures beyond the plant’s shutdown.
The crisis has drawn attention to Europe’s vulnerability to climate-related disruptions, particularly for energy infrastructure reliant on stable water sources. The Danube, Europe’s second-largest river, flows through 10 countries, making coordination on water management and environmental risks a growing priority.