Magyar mentioned on X that the water level near Hungary’s sole nuclear energy plant is currently 122 cm lower than usual and is anticipated to fall below 132 cm on Monday, potentially causing one of the plant’s two turbines to cease operation.
On Wednesday, Magyar announced plans to construct a riverbed sill using 150,000 cubic meters of stone and is considering submerging the two 80-meter barges. A sill is an underwater barrier designed to decelerate the water flow and increase water levels. Hungary’s Defense Ministry has deployed 100 troops to work continuously on the project, as stated by the prime minister on X.
Nuclear energy plants across Europe have been impacted by this summer’s drought conditions and extreme temperatures. Earlier this week, Romania shut down a nuclear power plant due to low Danube water levels.
France, being one of Europe’s largest nuclear power producers, experienced disruptions in its network of nuclear power plants throughout the summer. Le Monde reported that authorities had to close six of the country’s 57 nuclear reactors amid another heat wave affecting much of the nation. Additionally, a jellyfish invasion intensified by climate change forced the shutdown of parts of another plant earlier in the week.
Magyar has also expressed skepticism about completing an enlargement of the Paks plant by a Russian state-owned company in a deal signed by Magyar’s forerunner, the Kremlin-ally Viktor Orbàn, due to the water issue.
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