Hungary races to build Danube barrier to save Paks nuclear plant

Hungarian authorities have begun emergency engineering works on the Danube river to prevent the country's only nuclear power plant from shutting down due to record-low water levels.

The intervention involves the controlled sinking of two 80-meter barges and the construction of a riverbed sill—a low concrete and stone structure—just upstream of the Paks plant. The goal is to slow the river's current and raise water levels enough to keep the plant's cooling pumps operational.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who visited the site in Paks, said forecasts indicate the Danube could reach minus 132 centimeters by early Monday, which would force the shutdown of one of the two remaining operational turbines. He warned that levels could drop to minus 140 centimeters within five to six days, requiring a complete shutdown of the plant.

"We must prevent this at all costs," Magyar said.

The Soviet-built plant, which has operated for 44 years, is currently running at just over 10% of its 2,000-megawatt capacity. It supplies roughly one-third of Hungary's electricity.

Authorities began the works on Wednesday evening, using some 145,000 cubic meters of rocks. They hope the measures could raise the Danube's level by up to a meter. The Hungarian Army has deployed helicopters to drop large concrete cubes into the river.

Magyar said there is currently no need for international assistance, with the work being carried out by Hungarian experts. He described the bed sill as a long-term solution to ensure water levels never fall below the critical threshold.

Similar measures were attempted in Romania, where barges laden with rock were sunk to redirect water toward the Cernavoda nuclear plant, though those reactors were ultimately shut down.

Magyar warned that losing the plant's 2,000-megawatt output would place a massive, long-term burden on the Hungarian budget.