Hungary Shuts Down Paks Nuclear Plant for First Time in 44 Years
Amid record-low Danube water levels and extreme heat expected to hit 42°C, Hungary declares a state of emergency and fully halts its only nuclear power plant.
Amid record-low Danube water levels and extreme heat expected to hit 42°C, Hungary declares a state of emergency and fully halts its only nuclear power plant.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Monday, August 3, 2026, that the Paks nuclear power plant, the country's only nuclear facility, would be completely shut down. The decision came after the Danube River fell to a historic low, making it impossible to safely cool the plant. This marks the first time in 44 years, since the first unit went online in 1982, that all four reactors will be simultaneously offline.
The Paks nuclear power plant, located south of Budapest, typically generates about one-third of Hungary's electricity and relies entirely on Danube water for its cooling systems. Due to prolonged droughts and lack of rainfall, the river's water level has dropped dramatically since May, forcing authorities to take this unprecedented step.
The process of reducing output began on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, with initial power restrictions. Unit 3 was shut down on Wednesday afternoon, July 29, and by Thursday morning, July 30, Unit 2's output was reduced to 50 percent. At that point, only two of the four units were operating at reduced capacity.
Prime Minister Magyar announced on social media platform X that one of the remaining two production units would be taken offline at 1:30 AM, after which the plant's output would drop to just 240 megawatts. "Tomorrow it will be completely shut down, for the first time in 44 years," Magyar stated. The total nominal capacity of the Paks plant is 2,000 megawatts.
The situation is further exacerbated by a heatwave sweeping the region. Hungary's National Meteorological Service (HungaroMet) has issued extreme heat warnings, forecasting daily highs exceeding 40°C. Thursday is expected to see the peak of the heatwave with temperatures up to 42°C, which would tie the absolute national temperature record set earlier this summer.
The government has ordered additional energy-saving measures. All state institutions must switch off decorative and other non-essential lighting, and local authorities are expected to implement the strictest possible conservation measures. Prime Minister Magyar indicated that there is currently no need for mandatory energy consumption limits for companies, but stressed that the government would act immediately if necessary.
Despite the dramatic announcements, there was also some positive news. On Saturday afternoon, August 1, 2026, the Dunamenti power plant in Szazhalombatta was restarted after being offline for three days due to a technical fault. Thanks to a swift repair, the plant is back in operation, contributing an additional 360 megawatts of generating capacity to help stabilize the power grid.
The Prime Minister warned that the Paks plant could remain offline for more than a month. "We must overcome this and learn from the lessons. It may be easier to convince those who were climate skeptics or thought that the Carpathian Basin might ultimately avoid these problems," Magyar said.
"The Paks plant could be out of operation for more than a month, and we must prepare mentally for this. We must overcome this and learn from the lessons. It may be easier to convince those who were climate skeptics or thought that the Carpathian Basin might ultimately avoid these problems," Magyar said.
Authorities are working to secure alternative power sources to prevent major grid failures during peak demand days. This energy crisis marks a new, highly dramatic phase of the challenges Europe faces due to prolonged droughts and unprecedented heatwaves.
