Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Power Plant may be forced to suspend all electricity generation within the next 24 to 72 hours because of the Danube’s exceptionally low water level, plant operator MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd announced on Thursday.
The company said the facility, which produces nearly half of Hungary’s electricity and has a total capacity of around 2,000 megawatts, relies on water from the Danube to cool its condensers.
Although the river still contains sufficient water for cooling, the current water level has fallen below the intake level of the cooling pumps. As a result, the pumps will no longer be able to operate if water levels continue to decline.
According to the operator, the Danube is currently 28 centimetres below the previous record low recorded in 2018 and more than one metre below the minimum water level considered during the plant’s original design more than four decades ago.
Engineering work to lower the pump intake pipes has already begun. Once completed over the coming years, the plant will continue to operate safely even under significantly lower water levels than at present.
The company stressed that it is fully prepared to manage a complete shutdown if necessary. It has established emergency procedures for low-water conditions, which are divided into four alert levels. The plant is currently operating at Level 3, while forecasts indicate a realistic possibility of reaching the highest, Level 4.
‘The company stressed that it is fully prepared to manage a complete shutdown if necessary’
Following a full shutdown, the reactors will continue to require cooling. The operator said this process needs around 5 cubic metres of water per minute, compared with approximately 100 cubic metres per second while all four reactors are generating electricity.
Because water level forecasts change several times each day, the operator said it could only estimate the timing of a shutdown. Based on current calculations, all generating units may need to be taken offline within the next 24 to 72 hours.
The plant has also prepared for the possibility of even lower river levels. In cooperation with Hungary’s National Directorate General for Water Management, emergency ‘Pajtás’ pumps have been installed to ensure sufficient cooling water for reactors after shutdown.
If required, 12 of these pumps can operate continuously, with four additional units available as reserves and another 13 on standby. The operator said the necessary personnel, spare parts and fuel supplies are also in place.
Even if the Danube remains at exceptionally low levels for several weeks, the reactors can be maintained in a safe condition, the company said. Once water levels recover, electricity generation can resume in stages, with the restart potentially completed within a few days depending on river conditions.
The operator noted that previous upgrades have already enabled the plant to continue generating electricity at water levels 120 centimetres below its original design threshold. However, increasingly frequent periods of extremely low water have made further upgrades necessary, and those projects are already under way.
MVM said it will continue to publish updates on the plant’s official website and Facebook page, including any announcement regarding a full shutdown. The company also called on the public to use electricity responsibly and conserve power to help maintain the security of Hungary’s electricity supply.
Related articles:
At a time when public debate is increasingly polarized and superficial, Hungarian Conservative remains committed to depth, intellectual honesty, and independent conservative thought.
Producing high-quality journalism requires resources. Your contribution helps us expand our coverage, reach new audiences, and keep our content accessible.
Please consider supporting our mission.
