Budapest is bracing for a severe strain on its power grid after the Paks nuclear plant—responsible for nearly half of Hungary's electricity—was taken offline due to critically low water levels in the Danube. The shutdown, the first complete halt in the plant's 42-year history, has prompted the European Commission to consider convening an emergency meeting of its Electricity Coordination Group.
Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told Euronews that while the operator has emergency measures to ensure nuclear safety, the event could further destabilize the regional electricity balance. “The Commission stands ready to convene an ad hoc meeting of the Electricity Coordination Group,” she said, adding that Brussels is closely monitoring supply in both Hungary and Romania.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that the country could face an energy crisis as early as next week. “This means 2,000 megawatts will be lost from Hungarian energy production from Monday at the latest, while demand for residential and public consumption continues to rise because of the heat,” he said on Thursday evening. The government has asked households and businesses to reduce consumption during peak hours between 5pm and 10pm, specifically urging them to avoid air conditioning and washing machines.
Emergency measures and regional impact
Magyar outlined an emergency plan that includes rotational limits on industrial consumption and increased output from other domestic power plants. “Given the severity of this unprecedented situation, we are asking everyone – large consumers and the public alike – to act responsibly,” he said. “It is in our common interest to avoid unplanned outages and the kind of unexpected system collapse seen in Western Europe and the Balkans.”
András Perger, an energy expert at the Hungarian NGO Energiaklub, told Euronews that the country stands to lose 25–30 percent of its energy output from Monday. “From Monday, when consumption is expected to rise and the Paks plant remains offline, a more serious situation will begin,” he said. “This will be a serious test for Hungarian and regional supply alike.” Perger noted that imports from neighbouring countries could cover some demand, but hydroelectric capacity in the region is itself constrained by the drought.
In Romania, the shutdown of one reactor is less problematic given nuclear power's smaller share in the national energy mix. “Although the situation in Hungary is stretched, I don't expect this to cause serious regional problems,” Perger added.
Environmental groups see the Paks outage as a symptom of a broader climate adaptation challenge. Ákos Éger, executive president of Friends of the Earth Hungary, said in a statement that the country needs to accelerate its transition to a more resilient, decentralised energy system that relies less on climate-vulnerable infrastructure and more on energy savings, flexibility, and renewables.
The Commission's Itkonen stressed that there are currently no immediate energy security concerns, but the Electricity Coordination Group could facilitate information-sharing and coordinate next steps among regional countries. The situation is being watched closely as Hungary heads into what officials describe as a critical test of its energy resilience.
This is not the first time extreme weather has threatened European nuclear infrastructure. Earlier this year, a wildfire near Suffolk's nuclear plants prompted emergency responses, and the broader risks of climate change to energy systems are increasingly under scrutiny. Hungary's reliance on the Danube for cooling makes it particularly vulnerable to low river levels, a challenge that may become more frequent as climate patterns shift.
The coming days will reveal whether Hungary can manage the shortfall without resorting to more drastic measures. For now, the government is appealing for public cooperation, while Brussels stands ready to step in if the regional balance is threatened.
