{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1896984,
        "msgid": "drought-threatens-total-shutdown-of-hungarys-paks-nuclear-plant-1785743657",
        "date": "2026-08-03 13:49:52",
        "title": "Drought Threatens Total Shutdown of Hungary's Paks Nuclear Plant",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Energy",
        "summary": "Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has warned that the Paks nuclear power plant, which supplies nearly half the country's electricity, faces its first total operational shutdown in 44 years due to critically low water levels in the Danube caused by extreme heat and drought. Strict safety regulations require the halt as the receding river impacts the availability of cooling water, with the last operating turbine expected to stop imminently. The government has implemented emergency measures, including voluntary and potential mandatory power consumption cuts for industry, to stabilise the national grid during a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40\u00b0C.",
        "content": "<p>Budapest (ANTARA) - A drought brought on by an extreme heatwave has\nlowered the water level of the River Danube and threatened a complete\nhalt to operations at the Paks nuclear power plant, Hungarian Prime\nMinister Peter Magyar said on Sunday (2 August) local time.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to the local commercial television channel RTL, Magyar\nwarned that the Paks plant could potentially be out of operation for\nmore than a month. He said the last turbine still running at the 2,000\nMW facility would likely be shut down either on Sunday (2 August)\nevening or Monday (3 August) local time.<\/p>\n<p>A total halt to power generation at Paks, which contributes nearly\nhalf of Hungary\u2019s domestic electricity production, would be the first\ncomplete operational shutdown in the plant\u2019s 44-year history.<\/p>\n<p>Magyar previously explained on social media that strict nuclear\nsafety regulations required the shutdown because river water levels had\nreached a record low, affecting the availability of water for the\ncooling system. He assured the public that nuclear safety remained fully\nguaranteed, with around 50 water management specialists deployed to help\nPaks personnel keep the cooling system operating.<\/p>\n<p>This unprecedented energy crisis has struck Hungary as the country\nbraces for temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above during \u201cthe five\nmost critical days\u201d, placing enormous strain on the national electricity\ngrid.<\/p>\n<p>The Hungarian government has introduced emergency measures to\nmaintain grid stability. Under a decree that came into effect on\nSaturday (1 August), mandatory reductions in electricity consumption can\nbe imposed on large industrial consumers if necessary.<\/p>\n<p>However, Magyar stressed that voluntary savings efforts by businesses\nand the public have so far helped avoid mandatory restrictions. Several\nmajor companies, including MOL, Audi and Gedeon Richter, have committed\nto significantly reducing their consumption.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 300 companies committed to voluntary reductions on Monday,\nalong with a number of state-owned enterprises, most local councils,\ncivil society groups and churches, he said.<\/p>\n<p>To save electricity, decorative lighting at Budapest\u2019s iconic\nlandmarks, including the Hungarian Parliament Building, Buda Castle and\nthe Chain Bridge, was switched off on Sunday (2 August) evening.<\/p>\n<p>Additional measures include suspending most rail freight services\nbetween 5pm and 10pm from Monday, putting reserve power generation units\non standby, and maximising electricity imports.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Hungary gets through these five most critical days, temperatures\nare expected to fall by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius,\u201d Magyar said, adding\nthat restrictions on household electricity use remained an absolute last\nresort to keep the system stable.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drought-threatens-total-shutdown-of-hungarys-paks-nuclear-plant-1785743657",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}