Hungary faces energy crunch as drought shuts down Paks nuclear plant, PM says
Hungary has shut down its Paks nuclear power plant due to record-low water levels in the Danube River caused by a severe drought. The closure, which affects 40 percent of the country's electricity generation, has prompted the government to implement emergency energy-saving measures.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure to climate change-induced environmental shifts, posing a significant risk to national stability.
Budapest loses 40 percent of the country’s electricity generation as water levels continue to drop.
Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn Free article usually reserved for subscribers People walk on the dried-out waterbed of the Danube River in downtown Budapest on July 30, 2026. | Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images August 2, 2026 2:25 pm CET By Elena Giordano Hungary faces “the most critical five days” ahead as a record drought in Central Europe has forced Budapest to shut down a nuclear power plant that generates 40 percent of the country’s electricity, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Sunday.
“As our electricity system will face an enormous strain, I ask everyone to pay even closer attention to each other from Monday,” Magyar said in a video appeal .
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