budapestReuters —
The Paks nuclear power plant, which generates almost half of Hungary’s electricity, could be cut off as early as this weekend as water levels in the Danube River hit record lows, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Saturday.
Paks’ four Russian reactors were operating at just a quarter of their combined output of 2 gigawatts and were expected to be completely shut off next week for the first time in 44 years, with water levels expected to fall further.
Water from the Danube is used to cool facilities, and low water levels due to lack of rain have also disrupted transport and tourism. The cuts could also hurt the broader economy, which saw weaker-than-expected growth in the second quarter.
“The water level of the Danube has fallen further,” Magyar said in a Facebook video. “Therefore, engineers at the Pax factory implemented another round of production cuts overnight.”
“A complete closure could occur sooner, as early as this weekend.”
Mark Radnaj, deputy leader of the Magyar Tisza party, said on Facebook that the energy crisis could cost Hungary between 100 billion and 200 billion forints ($315 million to $630 million) due to soaring prices for imported electricity.
Prime Minister Magyar said Park had warned there could be weeks of non-operation, and that he would issue a decree requiring major customers to voluntarily reduce their electricity demand, in addition to the approximately 240,000 kW that his cabinet had already promised, and said that sanctions would be applied if the reductions were not achieved.
Depending on the level of electricity production and imports, the Decree will also allow the grid operator MAVIR to force large consumers to reduce their electricity consumption and, if necessary, temporarily disconnect certain large consumers from the grid.
“Households will be the last in a series of restrictions,” Magyar said.
He said the 400 megawatts of output lost due to the failure of Hungary’s largest gas-fired power plant in Shazaronbatta could be restored as early as Sunday, but additional measures were needed to reduce the load on the power grid.
As of Monday, rail freight services will be suspended from 15:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT to reduce power demand. The government will also order public sector workers to work from home for the first three days of next week and ask businesses to comply where possible.
Floodlights and non-essential lights in Hungary’s public buildings will also be turned off, Magyar said, adding that water consumption restrictions had also begun in the areas most affected by record low water levels.
“Every drop of water counts,” he said.
