- Hungary's only nuclear plant is on the brink of shutdown due to a Danube drought that has severely impacted its operations.
- Romania has conducted a controlled explosion to reroute cooling water from the Danube to its Cernavodă nuclear reactor, which is also facing operational challenges.
- Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar indicated that the Paks plant might be fully shut down next week, with an energy crisis potentially arising as early as Monday.
- Output at the Paks plant has been reduced to less than half its capacity, generating only about 10% of its usual output due to the drought.
- Romania's controlled blast used 180kg of explosives to clear a rock obstructing water flow, allowing for a temporary dam to be built to support the Cernavodă reactor.
- Romania has declared a nationwide state of emergency due to a decline in electricity production, which has led to the shutdown of one reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear plant.
- Record-low Danube levels have severely affected both Hungary and Romania's energy production, prompting emergency measures and reliance on power imports.
- Voluntary cuts in power usage have been implemented in Hungary, reducing demand by 700MW, which has eased pressure on the grid.
Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, which typically generates nearly half of the country's electricity, is operating at less than half capacity due to record-low water levels in the Danube River. Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned of a potential complete shutdown next week, stating, "An energy crisis situation could arise beginning Monday."
In response, Romania's navy executed a controlled explosion to clear a rock obstructing water flow to its Cernavodă nuclear plant, which has also been affected by the drought. The operation involved 180kg of explosives and aims to build a temporary dam to increase water supply to the reactor. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță noted, "Any day past Wednesday or Thursday that the nuclear power plant functions is a gain."29
Both countries are facing energy shortages, with Hungary's Paks plant running at just over 10% capacity and Romania's Cernavodă reactor shut down. The drought has led to a nationwide state of emergency in Romania, with electricity production severely impacted. As a result, both nations are increasingly reliant on costly power imports to meet rising demand amid heatwave conditions.
Voluntary power cuts have been implemented, with Hungary reducing demand by 700MW on Sunday, while Romanian car manufacturers have halted production to conserve energy. The situation remains critical, with no significant rainfall expected to alleviate the drought conditions in the near future.
“Paks, which normally generates about half of Hungary's electricity, is running at just over 10% capacity after the Danube hit a record low, and PM Peter Magyar warned an energy crisis could begin Monday. Romania's navy used 180 kg of explosives to clear a rock and redirect cooling water to Cernavodă's remaining reactor.”
The Guardian
