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Hungary shuts its sole nuclear plant for the first time amid drought

Record-low water levels on the Danube forced Hungary to take its Paks nuclear plant offline for the first time since it opened, leaving the country facing a potential power crunch. In neighboring Serbia, output at two hydroelectric plants has also been reduced.

A riverbed with visibly low water levels amid drought
A riverbed with visibly low water levels amid droughtPhoto: DigitalByNADAS Photography / Pexels
Deutsche Welle Europe47 min ago
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Hungary took its Paks nuclear plant offline on Sunday for the first time since it began operating, after water levels on the Danube fell to a record low. The plant relies on river water for cooling, and prolonged heatwaves combined with drought made continued operation unsustainable.

Officials said the shutdown leaves the country facing a potential power crunch, since Paks supplies a significant share of Hungary's electricity generation. In neighboring Serbia, similar conditions have forced a reduction in output at two hydroelectric plants.

Successive heatwaves across Europe have heightened concerns about river-dependent energy infrastructure. Experts warned that climate change could make such disruptions more frequent in the years ahead.

EnergyEuropeDeutsche Welle Europe
Source: Deutsche Welle Europe
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This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by Deutsche Welle Europe. The illustration is a stock photo by DigitalByNADAS Photography from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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