Hungary has shut down its sole nuclear power plant at Paks because record-low water levels in the Danube River left insufficient cooling water.
The shutdown represents a critical blow to the nation's energy stability, as the Paks facility generates nearly half of Hungary's electricity [1].
Prime Minister Peter Magyar led the government's decision to power down the facility during the first weekend of August 2026 [1], [2]. The move follows a period of soaring temperatures and a severe drought that depleted the river's capacity to regulate reactor temperatures [3], [4].
Reports on the exact timing of the shutdown varied slightly among sources. Some indicated the plant could be powered down as soon as the weekend of Aug. 1–2, while other reports said the shutdown would occur in early August [1], [2].
The Paks plant sits directly on the banks of the Danube River [1], [5]. Because nuclear reactors require a constant flow of cool water to prevent overheating, the record-low levels of the river created an untenable operational risk [3], [4].
This event is the culmination of a heat wave that gripped Central Europe throughout July 2026 [5]. The resulting drought pushed the Danube to historic lows, making it impossible for the facility to maintain safe cooling protocols [3], [4].
Government officials have not yet specified when the reactors will return to full capacity. The timeline depends on the recovery of the river's water levels, and the stabilization of regional temperatures [1], [2].
“The Paks facility generates nearly half of Hungary's electricity.”
The Paks shutdown illustrates the growing vulnerability of nuclear energy infrastructure to climate-driven water scarcity. As extreme heat and drought become more frequent in Central Europe, the reliance on river-based cooling systems creates a systemic risk to national power grids. This event may prompt European regulators to rethink cooling requirements and water management strategies for nuclear facilities to prevent future energy crises.
