Hungary delays full nuclear plant shutdown by reducing capacity

Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electricity grid during an intense heatwave.

However, the plant is expected to shut down completely later this week as water levels in the Danube, which supplies its cooling water, are forecast to fall further.

The two-gigawatt Paks plant, which normally generates about half of Hungary’s electricity, was operating at just over 10 per cent of its total capacity on Monday after the Danube fell to a record low.

“Today, and maybe tomorrow, the last turbine producing 240 megawatts can keep working,” Prime Minister Péter Magyar said.

He described the development as positive because it could prevent a complete shutdown on one of the days when electricity consumption is expected to be at its highest.

Heatwave increases pressure on energy grid

Large parts of Europe have been affected by prolonged heat and drought, reducing river levels and raising concerns about water supplies, shipping and electricity generation.

“The most critical five days are starting now,” Magyar said in a video posted on Facebook.

“The energy grid and the water supply are under increasing strain.”

As the Paks plant is gradually powered down, Hungary is expected to become more dependent on imported electricity. Demand is also forecast to rise as temperatures increase during the heatwave.

• Hungary PM flags 'critical' days ahead with looming nuclear shutdown as Danube water levels at record-low

Voluntary cuts reduce electricity demand

Magyar said households and companies had responded to the government’s call to reduce electricity use.

Voluntary reductions lowered demand by 700 megawatts on Sunday, equivalent to the output of about one and a half reactors at Paks. Magyar said the cuts had significantly reduced pressure on the electricity grid.

Richter cuts power consumption

Pharmaceutical company Richter said it would reduce its electricity consumption by more than 50 per cent over the next three weeks.

The company also offered to supply four megawatts of electricity each day from its solar energy facility as businesses support efforts to stabilise Hungary’s power network.

Read more on the impact of the heatwave in southern Europe

• Belgium records Europe's highest excess mortality during June heatwave
• Two helicopters collide as Greece battles wildfires
• Wildfires close in on Bordeaux as Macron convenes emergency meeting

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