Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said that the Paks nuclear power plant could be shut down on the 30th and the 31st of July because the water level in the Danube, which is used to cool the reactor, is too low, Reuters reports.
The plant, which uses Russian-made reactors with a total capacity of two gigawatts, began reducing its electricity output on the 27th of July and is currently operating at less than 50% of its total capacity due to low water levels.
The water level on the Danube in Hungary has fallen to a record low this week, significantly disrupting both freight and tourism on one of Europe’s busiest waterways.
Magyar said that Hungary’s electricity import capacity would allow it to cover the necessities if the Paks nuclear power plant really has to be shut down. He added that
in the current situation, the NPP may have to be shut down as early as today,
the 30th of July, but it is more likely that it will happen tomorrow.
The Hungarian Prime Minister indicated on the 29th of July that the government will develop a continuity plan and create a list of the largest water and electricity consumers (mainly large industrial companies) whose consumption could be temporarily limited in an emergency.
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