Hungary will shut down the Paks nuclear power plant on Sunday for the first time in its 44-year history, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said, triggering electricity imports that could cost the country up to €546 million as Europe's energy security crisis deepens.
The shutdown comes after the Danube fell to a record low of 23 centimeters in Budapest 4 days ago, below the previous record of 33 centimeters set 8 years ago. The plant, which normally generates 2,000 megawatts — more than 40% of Hungary's electricity production — uses Danube water to cool its reactors. It can't operate without adequate river flow.
Magyar announced the decision on social media late Saturday night after a further drop in the river's water level. "Due to a further decline in the Danube's water level, the second-to-last generating unit at the Paks nuclear power plant will be shut down at 1:30 a.m.," he said. "As a result, the plant is now producing only 240 megawatts of electricity, and tomorrow, for the first time in 44 years, it will be completely shut down."
The Fiscal Picture
The surge in imported electricity prices could cost Hungary between 120 billion and 240 billion forints — between €273 million and €546 million — Tisza Party Vice Chairman Mark Radnai said on Facebook. That's the price of climate vulnerability when a country depends on a single nuclear facility for nearly half its power.
Magyar warned that the Paks plant could remain offline for weeks. No significant rain is forecast for the next few days and temperatures are expected to rise to over 38 degrees Celsius across the region. The Danube has fallen to record-low levels in some areas after months of below-average rainfall and successive heat waves since May. Hungary's water authority projected that the river would fall further in the coming days.
Energy Security Under Pressure
The plant is located 120 kilometers south of Budapest. Output had already been cut earlier in the week and some reactors had been shut down before the complete closure. The shutdown comes as heat waves across Europe, including in France and the US, are stressing power systems, raising blackout risks and energy prices when electricity demand is highest.
Magyar said his government would seek voluntary power cuts from large users, in addition to the 240 megawatts already pledged, with penalties for noncompliance. A decree would also allow grid operator MAVIR to mandate consumption cuts and temporarily disconnect large users if necessary. "Households will be the last to face restrictions," Magyar said.
Why This Matters:
Hungary's nuclear shutdown exposes the fragility of Europe's energy infrastructure in an era of climate stress. A country that generates 40% of its electricity from a single plant now faces a bill of up to €546 million to import power — money that won't build resilience for the next crisis. The Danube's record-low water level isn't a one-off event. It's the result of months of below-average rainfall and heat waves that started 3 months ago. Europe's energy security depends on diversification, not just decarbonisation. When a river runs dry, even nuclear power — often touted as the reliable baseload alternative to renewables — becomes unreliable. Hungary's crisis is a warning: member states must invest in energy independence, grid capacity, and backup systems. Relying on electricity imports during a continent-wide heat wave is neither sustainable nor sovereign.