---
title: "Low Danube water forces Paks nuclear plant shutdown in Hungary"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/82224/low-danube-water-forces-paks-nuclear-plant-shutdown-in-hungary
published: 2026-08-02T14:57:48Z
language: en
author: "Rodica Mazur"
section: "International"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Low Danube water forces Paks nuclear plant shutdown in Hungary

> Hungary's Tisza opposition leader Péter Magyar announced on July 2 that a production unit at the country's sole nuclear power plant has been taken offline.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/9af3b389-1e9f-4f54-b3fc-9baf55617f79.jpg)

Hungary's Tisza opposition leader Péter Magyar announced on July 2 that a production unit at the country's sole nuclear power plant has been taken offline.

The emergency shutdown at the Paks facility is a first in its 44-year history, caused by critically low water levels in the Danube River, according to AFP.

**Critical grid strain**

*"Due to a further drop in Danube water levels, one of the remaining two active units at the Paks nuclear plant will be halted," Magyar stated. *"This reduces total output from the facility to just 240 megawatts."*

Located roughly 100 kilometers south of Budapest, the Paks nuclear power plant normally generates about 40% of Hungary's annual electricity.

Magyar warned that Hungary faces five critical days as an incoming heatwave threatens to exacerbate the drought and further disrupt cooling operations at the plant.

**Water restrictions and rising energy costs**

Receding water levels have already disrupted river transport and tourism across Hungary. Government data shows water consumption limits have been imposed in over 100 towns and villages, including suburban Budapest.

In response to the supply shortage, Magyar called on businesses, public institutions, and households to voluntarily reduce electricity usage during peak hours between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

The Hungarian government is expected to decide on Sunday whether to impose mandatory power restrictions on major corporate consumers starting Monday.

Márk Radnai, vice president of the Tisza party, stated on Facebook that the energy shortfall could cost the nation between 100 billion and 200 billion forints (€250 million to €500 million / $315 million to $630 million) due to expensive emergency electricity imports.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**