Paks Nuclear Power Plant Completely Shut Down: Péter Magyar’s Major Announcement

According to official operating data from the Országos Atomenergia Hivatal and statements from MVM Paksi Atomerőmű Zrt., the Paksi Atomerőmű experienced severe production curtailments and partial shutdowns between July 18 and August 1, 2026, due to extreme heat and critically low water levels in the Danube River.

Danube Water Levels Drop and Trigger Emergency Block Reductions

The energy situation in Hungary grew critical over several weeks as prolonged drought and a heatwave caused the Danube’s water flow to decrease drastically. According to MVM Paksi Atomerőmű Zrt., the river reached a new negative record at Paks with a water level of minus 106 centimeters on July 27. Normal operations at the plant normally total 2,000 megawatts across four blocks of 500 megawatts each.

The operational disruptions began earlier in July. On July 18, MVM Paksi Atomerőmű Zrt. announced a 160-megawatt curtailment coordinated with MAVIR due to thermal load regulations on the Danube. Although the Országos Atomenergia Hivatal reported a temporary recovery in river temperatures on July 19 allowing units to return to nominal capacity, conditions worsened significantly later in the month.

On July 27, following the negative water level record, plant specialists reduced output on the first block by 254 megawatts starting at 21:45. The water level continued dropping to minus 112 centimeters on July 28, prompting a 237-megawatt reduction on the third block starting at 20:00. By July 29, the measurement at Paks reached minus 118 centimeters, and specialists initiated the shutdown of the third block at 15:00.

Further Curtailments and Threat of Total Plant Shutdown

The crisis deepened on July 30 when the water level fell to minus 121 centimeters. MVM announced that the second block’s output would be cut by 50 percent starting at 07:00. Later that day, the nuclear power plant warned that a complete shutdown of the facility within 24 to 72 hours could become unavoidable due to the extremely low water level.

The primary concern was not a lack of water volume for cooling the blocks, but rather the level of the suction intakes for the cooling pumps. According to official communications, the receding water level threatened to compromise the required operational capability of these pumps. By July 31, the water level at Paks dropped further to minus 126 centimeters, leading MVM to reduce the fourth block’s output by 50 percent starting at 22:45.

On the morning of August 1, operational data from the Országos Atomenergia Hivatal confirmed that the first and third blocks were producing 0 megawatts, while the second block operated at 234 megawatts and the fourth block at 235 megawatts. MVM announced that the still-functioning turbine generator unit of the first block would be shut down on August 1 at 05:45 due to the worsening drought. Magyar Péter stated on the morning of August 1 that total production had fallen to 480 megawatts compared to the normal 2,000-megawatt capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the production cuts at the Paksi Atomerőmű?

According to MVM Paksi Atomerőmű Zrt. and the Országos Atomenergia Hivatal, the reductions were caused by extreme heat, prolonged drought, and critically low water levels in the Danube River that threatened cooling pump intake levels and thermal load regulations.

How much power was the facility generating by August 1, 2026?

Official operational data and statements indicated that total production dropped to 480 megawatts, with the first and third blocks producing 0 megawatts and the second and fourth blocks operating at approximately half capacity.

Did a lack of water for cooling cause the potential total shutdown?

No, official statements clarified that the main issue was not an insufficient volume of water for cooling, but rather that the receding water level at the cooling pump suction intakes would no longer ensure the necessary operating conditions.