Hungary PM Warns of ‘Critical’ Days as Nuclear Plant Faces Shutdown

AFP

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar.

Hungary is facing a critical five-day period, Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned on Sunday, as record-low water levels in the Danube threaten to force the country’s only nuclear power plant to shut down for the first time in more than four decades, with another heatwave forecast.

The national water authority has forecast that water levels in the Danube, which flows from Germany to the Black Sea, will continue to decline in the coming days.

"We are facing the most critical five days ahead," Magyar said in a Facebook video. "Tomorrow, the Paks power plant will ‌not ⁠be generating, while the hottest, 40-degree (Celsius, 104 Fahrenheit) days are ahead.

"The power grid, our public services and ourselves will all come under enormous strain," said Magyar, who has warned that Paks could remain idle for weeks.

Large parts of Europe have been affected by prolonged heat and drought, causing river levels to fall and raising concerns over water supplies, river transport and electricity generation.

Hungary’s 2-gigawatt Paks nuclear power plant, which operates four Russian-built reactors, was running at just over 10% of its total capacity on Sunday after the Danube, which provides cooling water for the facility, fell to a record low, according to Reuters.

Reuters also reported that falling water levels have also disrupted shipping and tourism across Hungary, while water-use restrictions have been imposed in more than 100 towns and villages, including areas on the outskirts of Budapest, according to government records.

Prime Minister Magyar also renewed his appeal for businesses, public institutions, local authorities and households to significantly reduce or reschedule electricity consumption during peak evening hours between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

He said the government would decide on Sunday whether to introduce mandatory electricity restrictions for large companies from Monday.

The crisis could cost Hungary between 100 billion and 200 billion forints (approximately $315 million to $630 million) due to soaring electricity import costs, Mark Radnai, vice-chairman of Magyar’s Tisza party, said in a Facebook post.



PUKMEDIA