Hungary closes nuclear power plant – water level critical

TT

 

Published 07:24

 

The nuclear power plant in Paks is closed due to record low water in the Danube. Photo: Daniel Kiss /AP/TT

Hungary is closing the country's only nuclear power plant due to record low water levels in the Danube River.

This was written by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in a post on X.

The nuclear power plant in Paks south of Budapest normally accounts for about a third of Hungary's electricity needs. The plant's cooling water comes from the Danube, whose water levels are currently at record lows due to several recurring heat waves.

"As a result, the power plant's production will drop to just 240 megawatts, and tomorrow it will be completely shut down for the first time in 44 years," writes Magyar.

The Hungarian weather service Hungaromet predicts that temperatures will exceed 40 degrees in the country in the coming days.