Hungary Faces Energy Crisis as Paks Nuclear Plant Shuts Down Amid Record-Low Danube Levels

On July 30, 2026, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that the Paks Nuclear Power Plant – the country’s sole nuclear facility and provider of nearly half of national electricity – could be forced into a complete shutdown within 24–72 hours because the Danube River’s water level has fallen to a historic low. “This means 2,000 megawatts will be lost from Hungarian energy production from Monday at the latest, while demand for residential and public consumption continues to rise because of the heat,” — Péter Magyar. The shutdown marks the first total offline of the 42-year-old plant.

Hungary faces energy crisis as low Danube levels threaten Paks nuclear plant Péter Magyar discusses energy crisis after Paks NPP shutdown Hungary says nuclear shutdown may come this weekend

A prolonged heatwave and successive droughts have driven the Danube to its lowest recorded levels in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Water at the Paks intake is 28 cm below the 2018 record, itself more than one metre under the 100-year minimum used in the plant’s design. Similar low-water conditions have forced reactor shutdowns in Romania’s Cernavoda plant and reduced output at Serbia’s Djerdap 1 hydropower station.

Reuters

• 2,000 MW (? 50 % of Hungary’s generation) lost at Paks.

Euronews

• Energy-output loss estimated at 25–30 % for Hungary from Monday onward (András Perger, Energiaklub).

Euronews

• Danube water level 28 cm below the 2018 record; the plant’s intake pipes sit above the current water line.

Péter Magyar discusses energy crisis after Paks NPP shutdown

The Hungarian government has issued a multi-layered response:

Euronews

• A voluntary demand-reduction appeal to households and businesses for the 5 p.m.–10 p.m. peak period, with penalties for large industrial users who fail to comply.

Péter Magyar discusses energy crisis after Paks NPP shutdown

• Activation of standby backup plants and preparation of mandatory rotational cuts if voluntary measures prove insufficient.

Péter Magyar discusses energy crisis after Paks NPP shutdown

• Plans to import electricity from neighboring countries, though regional generation capacity is already constrained by low water.

Reuters

• “This means 2,000 megawatts will be lost from Hungarian energy production from Monday at the latest, while demand for residential and public consumption continues to rise because of the heat,” — Péter Magyar

Euronews

• “It is in our common interest to avoid unplanned outages and the kind of unexpected system collapse seen in Western Europe and the Balkans.” — András Perger, Energiaklub

Euronews

Sources differ on the expected duration of the shutdown. The Guardian reports that the plant could remain offline for “weeks,” while Hungarian officials suggest the outage may be “temporary” if water levels improve or backup generation is restored.

Péter Magyar discusses energy crisis after Paks NPP shutdown

The European Commission is prepared to hold an emergency Electricity Coordination Group meeting at any time to monitor the situation. Hungary’s renewable-energy programme, announced in early August, aims to add 4 GW of wind capacity and 3 GW of storage by 2030, seeking to reduce reliance on both Russian gas and river-dependent generation. Legislative drafts to enable compulsory load-shedding for large consumers are also under review.

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