Magyar: Situation at Paks Nuclear Plant Remains Difficult

The situation at the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary remains "difficult", according to Prime Minister Peter Magyar. Since the end of last week, the plant has been operating at only about one-tenth of its capacity, as a prolonged heat wave and record-low water levels in the Danube have limited cooling capabilities.

Rain in Austria is expected to raise the river's level by about 20 cm in the coming days, though the relief will likely be short-lived.

Temperatures are also expected to drop. According to the government, electricity and water supplies remain stable, meaning conservation measures are no longer necessary. Budapest will therefore once again turn on the decorative lighting on its historic buildings.

Magyar said the government is seeking long-term solutions in case low Danube water levels become a persistent problem.

Hungary also aims to increase the resilience of its energy grid and build four gigawatts of wind power capacity by 2030.

(Reuters, MJA)