Hungary urges power cuts as drought halts nuclear plant

Hungary has called on businesses and households to voluntarily reduce electricity consumption after drought-induced low water levels in the Danube River disrupted operations at the country's only nuclear power plant, raising concerns over energy supply during an intense heatwave.

The Paks Nuclear Power Plant suspended operations after the Danube's water level fell too low to provide sufficient cooling for its reactors, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The appeal comes as Hungary braces for extreme temperatures of between 40°C and 42°C (104°F–108°F) on August 5–6, with electricity demand expected to surge as air-conditioning use increases.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar said the peak of the heatwave would occur during those two days and urged the public to voluntarily reduce electricity consumption during peak demand hours, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time.

Magyar also thanked businesses and households for their willingness to curb energy use during the critical period, emphasizing that voluntary conservation would help ease pressure on the country's power system as it grapples with the combined impact of extreme heat and reduced nuclear generation.

By Vafa Guliyeva