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Low Danube levels force Hungary, Romania nuclear shutdowns

7/30/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Magyar Shuts Plant

Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the 2,000 MW Paks nuclear plant will shut by Monday because Danube water levels are low.
Paks, which supplies 40% of Hungary’s electricity, has run at under 50% capacity, prompting Hungary to import up to 3,800 MW and ask industrial users to cut electricity.
Romania also shut its Cernavoda reactors, which supply about one-fifth of its power, after the Danube gauge fell to 23 cm on Wednesday.

Summary

Danube Triggers Closures

Budapest recorded a 31 cm Danube level on Tuesday, beating the previous 33 cm low of 2018.
A WWII bomb and ammunition uncovered at Margaret Bridge forced the bridge’s temporary closure for safety.
Police rescued 186 tourists from the grounded Viking Ullur cruise ship near Vidin, Bulgaria.
In Novi Sad, Serbia, the Danube receded 15-20 metres, leaving hundreds of boats stranded.

History

Historical Context

The Danube’s recurring low-water crises trace back to the abandoned Nagymaros dam, part of the 1977 Budapest Treaty that was halted in 1984 after environmental protests and replaced by Slovakia’s Variant C, which lowered downstream flow. Combined with the 2022-23 European heat-wave drought, the reduced river level forced Hungary to shut the 2,000 MW Paks nuclear plant and halted Romania’s Cernavoda reactors.

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Magyar Shuts Plant

Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the 2,000 MW Paks nuclear plant will shut by Monday because Danube water levels are low.
Paks, which supplies 40% of Hungary’s electricity, has run at under 50% capacity, prompting Hungary to import up to 3,800 MW and ask industrial users to cut electricity.
Romania also shut its Cernavoda reactors, which supply about one-fifth of its power, after the Danube gauge fell to 23 cm on Wednesday.

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