- The European Commission said Friday it was closely monitoring the situation and was prepared to convene an emergency meeting of its Electricity Coordination Group over the Paks shutdown.
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the last operating reactor units at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant would be taken offline because of the Danube's falling water levels, with the plant completely shut down for the first time in 44 years.
- Magyar stated that Hungary faces the most critical five days after a record drought forced Budapest to shut down a nuclear plant that generates 40 percent of the country's electricity.
- The government urged households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., including limiting air conditioning and washing machine use.
- Authorities prepared an emergency plan to temporarily restrict industrial consumption on a rotating basis while increasing output from other power plants.
- A prolonged outage would cripple Hungary's electricity supply while Budapest faces 40 degrees Celsius temperatures amid an ongoing heatwave and drought across Europe.
- Magyar warned an energy crisis situation may arise from Monday and said coordinated steps and self-restraint would be needed.
Hungary is facing a critical energy crisis as the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which provides 40 percent of the country's electricity, has been shut down due to record drought conditions affecting the Danube River's water levels.234
Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that the last operating reactor units would be offline for the first time in 44 years due to the river's low water levels.
The government has urged citizens to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours, particularly between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., and to limit the use of air conditioning and washing machines.5
In response to the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius in Budapest, authorities have prepared an emergency plan to restrict consumption at industrial facilities on a rotating basis while increasing output from other power plants.67
The European Commission is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to convene an emergency meeting of its Electricity Coordination Group regarding the Paks shutdown.1
As the drought continues, Magyar warned that “an energy crisis situation may arise from Monday”, emphasizing the need for coordinated steps and self-restraint to mitigate severe consequences.8
“Magyar warned an 'energy crisis situation may arise from Monday' as the Paks plant shuts down completely for the first time in 44 years. The government urged households and businesses to cut power use during peak 5–10 p.m. hours, and the European Commission stands ready to convene its Electricity Coordination Group.”
politico.eu
