Danube rise offers brief relief, but Paks nuclear plant stays at 10% capacity

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Friday that water levels on the Danube are expected to rise by about 20 centimeters in the coming days, offering a brief respite from a prolonged heatwave. However, he cautioned that the increase is likely temporary, as no significant rainfall is forecast.

The Paks nuclear plant, which relies on Danube water for cooling, has been operating at roughly 10% of its capacity since last week due to record-low river levels. Magyar described the situation at the plant as "difficult" and said the government is working on solutions in case low water levels become a permanent challenge.

Earlier in the week, the government had asked citizens and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during evening hours and dimmed decorative lighting on Budapest's historic buildings to ease strain on the power grid. With temperatures expected to drop and energy and water supplies stable, Magyar said these measures are no longer necessary, and the decorative lighting will be switched back on Friday night.

Magyar praised the public response, noting that initial surveys suggest nearly all Hungarian families participated in conservation efforts. He also said the government will assess what investments are needed to make the country's energy and water infrastructure more resilient, adding that "climate change is already here, and we need to build a country that can adapt."

Last week, the government announced plans to develop 4 gigawatts of wind energy capacity by 2030 as part of efforts to diversify energy sources. Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, has experienced record heat and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain among the hardest hit.