Why must the Paks Nuclear Power Station be shut down?

Due to the extremely low water level of the Danube, Paks Nuclear Power Station is currently operating at only minimal capacity, and a further drop in the water level may soon force the shutdown of the last remaining turbine.

However, this does not mean that the power station would be left without cooling. If the system used for normal power generation can no longer operate, separate safety systems can continue to cool the reactors and the spent fuel pools. As a further precaution, floating ‘Pajtás’ pumps are being installed to provide additional cooling water if needed in case of further drop of the water level in the Danube.

On 2 August 2026, only one of the eight turbines at Paks remained operational, resulting in a loss of around 1,750 MW of generating capacity in the Hungarian electricity system. A similar situation has affected the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant in Romania, where one of its two units has already been shut down.

If the Danube level continues to fall, the remaining turbine at Paks may also have to be shut down. The immediate priorities will then be to ensure the continued safe cooling of the reactors and spent fuel pools, while also maintaining the balance of Hungary’s electricity system despite the loss of a major source of generation.

(Summary of Dean Aszódi's article published on portfolio.hu)

Rector's Office, Communications Directorate