Record-low Danube water levels due to prolonged drought have forced Hungary's only nuclear power plant to halt operations for the first time in over four decades, and the country is bracing for another heatwave.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar made an extraordinary address to citizens on Sunday, warning that the country faces its "most critical five days." The cause is the record-low water level of the Danube River, whose water is used to cool the Paks nuclear power plant, forcing Hungary's only nuclear facility to suspend operations.
"Tomorrow, the Paks plant will not produce electricity, and we face the hottest days, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees," Magyar said, as reported by Azernews. The Prime Minister called on companies, public institutions, and households to reduce electricity consumption during evening peak hours.
The Paks nuclear power plant, with a capacity of 2 gigawatts, produces about half of Hungary's total electricity. Its shutdown is a severe blow to the country's energy stability. According to Dnevno.hr, this is the first time in over four decades that the plant has been forced to halt operations.
The Hungarian government will decide today on introducing mandatory electricity consumption restrictions for large companies, which could take effect as early as Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed.
The prolonged heatwave and drought have lowered water levels across Europe, disrupting electricity production and river traffic. Romania shut down one reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear plant last week, while dry conditions have fueled major wildfires in Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.
Low water levels are not only affecting the energy sector. In the Dutch province of Gelderland and along the border with Overijssel, several ferry services have been suspended due to low water levels on the Rhine and its branches, the Waal and IJssel. Last week, the Rhine reached its lowest water level ever recorded.
According to NOS, ferry services between Doornenburg and Pannerden, and between Druten and Dodewaard, have been suspended since Saturday, August 3. Passengers could use the pedestrian ferry between Rhederlaag and Rheden until 8 PM on Sunday, after which it was also halted.
Reverend Richard van Oijen, owner of a ferry service, describes the situation as exceptional. "In the past, we were often out of service, but it was always due to high water. As far as I can remember, this is the first time in our history that we cannot sail because of low water," he told Omroep Gelderland.
The transport company Ton Paulus Veerbedrijf, which operates ferries between Opheusden and Wageningen, and between Wijk bij Duurstede and Rijswijk, has not yet suspended its services and does not expect problems in the coming days.
