Hungary Casts Doubt on Nuclear Plant Expansion After Danube Woes

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar cast doubt on the Russian-led expansion of the country’s sole nuclear power plant after the record-low level of the Danube river almost led to a full shutdown of the existing reactors.

The Cernavodă plant, which produces 20% of Romania's electricity, is not expected to be restarted within the next 10 days.

The move deepens an energy crunch gripping parts of Europe after weeks of extreme heat.

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube has seen flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July in 34 years, according to an analysis published on Monday by the European climate change observatory, Copernicus.

The Cernavoda plant usually generates a fifth of Romania’s electricity.

Romania had tried to avert a total shutdown of the plant, which usually generates a fifth of the country's electricity.

Scorching heat and low rainfall in recent weeks have left the Danube River at record lows and forced the state-owned Cernavoda plant to shut down its first reactor in late July.

Record low water levels in the River Danube force temporary shutdown of Romania’s last operating nuclear reactor, obliging the country to import more electricity.

In response to alarming low levels of the Danube river, Romania's energy sector is on high alert. Unit one of the Cernavoda nuclear power facility has ceased operations due to water scarcity. To maintain unit two's functionality, emergency measures including river dredging have been implemented. Authorities have also u

Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant's 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River  Toronto Star

Romania has begun a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant

Romania has begun a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube, the river whose water is used to cool the plants, has recorded flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July.

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube, the river whose water is used to cool the plants, has recorded flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July.

13 August 2026 Romania’s nuclear group Nuclearelectrica (BVB: SNN) announced that, on the morning of August 13, 2026, it began procedures for the controlled shutdown of Unit 2 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The shutdown procedure of Unit 2 at Cernavodă began at 8:00 AM, according to data consulted by Economica.n

Romania to shut down nuclear plant due to low Danube  euractiv.com

Hungary’s government plans interventions on Danube River to keep nuclear plant running  AP News

Police suspect cardiac arrest; the 51-year-old’s body has been sent for autopsy

The massive Gravelines nuclear power plant just 30 miles from Britain has been forced to close down in order to avoid disaster after a swarm of jellyfish got sucked into the cooling system on Monday

Jellyfish-hit French nuclear plant shuts down three reactors  reuters.com