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(Bloomberg) — Hungary may need to shut its sole nuclear power plant as soon as this weekend after the Danube River’s water level continued to drop, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.
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Magyar spoke after the second of four nuclear reactor blocs was taken offline on Saturday, reducing output at the Paks nuclear plant to less than a quarter of its 2,000 megawatt capacity.
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The sustained drought across central Europe is straining water supplies and causing a shortage of water for cooling, forcing Hungary to shut its nuclear facility for the first time 44 years. Paks accounts for 40% of the country’s electricity generation.
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The plan will prioritize power cuts at companies and only limit household electricity usage as a last resort, Magyar said.
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Large industrial firms are currently paring their consumption voluntarily, but mandatory cuts will also be ordered as needed, the premier said.
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The government plans to halt rail freight traffic at peaks hours from Monday and is also turning off decorative lighting on state buildings. Households are being asked to limit power consumption during peak evening hours, and Budapest trams and subways will operate at reduced speed to conserve electricity.
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High temperatures in Hungary’s capital are expected to hit 37C or 38C (98.6-100.4F) on each of the next six days.
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Separately, the government ordered a halt to the watering of gardens and stadium pitches as the strain on the water system grows more acute. “Every drop of water counts,” Magyar said.
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Dan Jorgensen, the top European Union official for energy and housing, said Saturday on X that the EU is closely monitoring electrical supply security in Hungary, Romania and the wider Southeast European region given ongoing heat and drought conditions. There is no immediate security of supply concern, he added.
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