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Hungary Fires Up 1st Turbine at Paks Nuclear Plant After Danube Water Rise, PM Says

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Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar on Monday said the process of getting a turbine online at the Paks nuclear plant has started following an increase in the Danube water levels.

"This morning, the water level of the Danube was 19 centimeters above the low point recorded a week ago. The process of reconnecting a turbine at Paks has begun," Magyar said in a Facebook post.

"From this evening, Turbine 3 of the second unit will also be generating power," he added.

The plant, which supplies almost half of Hungary's electricity, has operated at about 10% capacity recently after prolonged heat and record-low river levels restricted cooling, according to a Reuters report.

On Friday, Magyar said only limited improvement was expected at the Paks nuclear plant with higher Danube water levels offering temporary relief.

Rainfall in Austria should lift the Danube by about 20 centimeters over the next few days, but the increase is likely to prove temporary as dry weather returns, leaving operating conditions at the Paks nuclear plant difficult, he said last week.

Magyar further said the government continues to prepare long-term solutions in case persistently low Danube water levels become permanent, stressing Hungary cannot rely on the Paks plant operating at sharply reduced capacity for months.

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