Budapest, August 16: Hungary is currently grappling with one of the most severe droughts and water crises in decades. The seriousness of the situation is underscored by the emergence of the ‘Rock of Starvation,’ a historical formation in the Danube River, which has become nearly fully visible. Recently, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary had to be temporarily shut down due to the crisis. Efforts to address the water shortage have seen some progress as construction of an underwater weir is being expedited to provide sufficient water amid record low river levels.
Prime Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Saturday that construction is ongoing along both banks of the river. In a Facebook post, he noted that approximately 5,000 tons of stone were delivered to Paks on Saturday alone, which will be used in the construction of the underwater structure.
According to local media outlet Daily Hungary News, Szijjarto held a press conference near the cold-water channel of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, where he stated that despite predictions of further declines in water levels, the water around the plant has actually increased. This is partly due to the positioning of two 80-meter-long gravel structures in the river, which have temporarily aided in supplying necessary water to the plant’s cooling system.
The Paks plant relies on the Danube River to cool its reactors. This year, prolonged drought and extreme heat across Europe have caused the river’s water levels to drop to historic lows, forcing Paks to significantly reduce its electricity production capacity.
The Hungarian government plans to construct a weir using approximately 145,000 cubic meters of rock to stabilize the river’s water levels. This initiative is expected to raise the water level around the plant by about one meter.
Controlled gravel placement is also a temporary measure that could increase the water level around Paks’ cooling pumps by approximately 20 centimeters.
This crisis is not limited to Hungary. Neighboring Romania has also had to shut down both reactors at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant due to low water levels in the Danube.
Hungary is facing one of the most serious droughts and water crises in decades. The Danube River, which flows through the country, has reached historically low water levels, impacting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and energy production.
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