Hungary's nuclear shutdown due to the low Danube is delayed until next week

Peter Magyar, the Prime Minister of Hungary, said that Hungary's paks nuclear power plant could continue to operate at its reduced capacity up until Monday or Tuesday. This would ease pressure on the country's electricity grid as it faces a critical five-day period starting Monday.

The plant will be shut down completely later this week, as the water level on the Danube River, which it uses to cool the system, is projected to fall further.

On Monday, the 2-gigawatt Paks plant, which generates half the electricity in the country, was only running at 10% of its normal capacity after the Danube fell to a new record low.

Magyar stated that "today and perhaps tomorrow, the last turbine producing up to 240 megawatts could continue working."

He said, "This is very good news as the shutdown of the entire plant on the day with the highest demand can be avoided."

The prolonged heat and dry conditions in large parts of Europe has lowered river levels, raising concerns over water supply, river transport, and power generation.

"The most crucial five days have begun now" "The energy grid and water supply are under increasing pressure," Magyar stated in a video on Facebook.

Hungary's reliance on imported electricity will grow as the Paks nuclear power plant gradually shuts down. The heatwave is expected?to increase demand for electricity.

Magyar stated?on Sunday that voluntary reductions in electricity usage by households and businesses made in response to a government call reduced demand?by 700MW on Sunday, equaling the output?of an and a half nuclear reactors in Paks. This significantly eased pressure on the electrical grid.

The pharma company, Richter, announced on Monday it would reduce its electricity usage by over 50% within the next three week period and offer a daily supply of 4 MW produced by its solar power park. (Reporting and editing by Anita Komuves)

(source: Reuters)