Hungary is entering what Prime Minister Péter Magyar has described as one of the country’s most serious energy crises in decades, with the most critical period expected to begin on Monday as the Paks Nuclear Power Plant moves closer to a possible full shutdown.

Speaking at two emergency press briefings on Friday (first at MOL’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta and later at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant), the prime minister outlined the government’s response to the unprecedented situation created by the Danube’s exceptionally low water level.

Magyar said the nuclear power station is currently operating at roughly 960 megawatts, less than half of its normal 2,000-megawatt capacity.

According to the government, the Danube stood at minus 124 centimetres on Friday, while the plant’s final operating reactor must be shut down if the river falls to minus 134 centimetres to comply with safety regulations.

Based on the latest forecasts, the final reactor may have to be taken offline on Tuesday or Wednesday, although Magyar warned that the country’s most difficult period is expected to begin as early as Monday.

The prime minister stressed repeatedly that the situation does not pose a nuclear safety risk. He said the shutdown procedure follows long-established safety protocols, while the reactors’ cooling systems will continue operating even after electricity generation stops.

Officials warned that the outage could last longer than initially expected. Current weather forecasts indicate little chance of significant rainfall across the Danube catchment area in the coming weeks, meaning water levels may remain below the threshold required to restart the reactors.

The government said experts are continuously monitoring the river, with emergency mobile pumps available if the water level falls further to ensure cooling water can still be supplied safely.

Magyar said the government’s top priority is preventing nationwide power outages. He urged Hungary’s largest industrial consumers to cut electricity usage, particularly between 5 PM and 10 PM, when demand is highest.

According to the prime minister, Thursday evening’s peak electricity demand was already 151 megawatts lower than forecast thanks to voluntary reductions, while MOL has committed to reducing its own electricity consumption by 65 megawatts.

Meanwhile, the Dunamenti Power Plant is expected to begin trial operations on Saturday after repairs, with around 400 megawatts of generating capacity scheduled to return by Sunday.

Photo: MTI

Magyar argued that the current situation has been made worse by years of insufficient investment. He claimed the previous government failed to upgrade Paks after the Danube reached a record low in 2018, despite improvements being carried out at the Dunamenti Power Plant, where modifications to the water intake system have allowed operations to continue despite the current drought.

According to the prime minister, the temporary loss of Paks’ electricity production could cost the state budget around HUF 50 billion per month. He also criticised what he described as misinformation surrounding the crisis, urging political actors not to spread false claims or create unnecessary panic.

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Magyar said the crisis illustrates how unprepared Hungary has been for the effects of climate change. He criticised previous governments for failing to accelerate investments in wind power, electricity storage and other renewable energy technologies, arguing that a more diversified energy system would have reduced the country’s dependence on both Russian technology and the Danube’s water level.

The government has already approved plans to allow the construction of new wind farms with a combined capacity roughly double that of the current Paks Nuclear Power Plant, he said.

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An emergency government defence task force was scheduled to meet on Friday evening to examine several contingency plans in case Paks is forced to shut down completely. Among the options under consideration is the possibility of restricting certain rail freight operations during peak demand periods to reduce pressure on the electricity grid.

The government is also assessing the availability of additional electricity imports from neighbouring countries to help maintain supply if domestic generation falls further.

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Magyar also rejected social media claims that neighbouring countries, including Austria, Germany and Slovakia, were deliberately withholding water from the Danube. According to the prime minister, neither the government nor Hungary’s water management authorities have found any evidence to support those allegations.

He likewise denied reports that Hungary is exporting electricity to Ukraine during the current energy crisis, saying the opposite is true in the present circumstances.