The European Commission has announced its readiness to convene an emergency meeting following the complete shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant, as Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned that the country could face an energy crisis as early as next week.
According to Magyar, the record low water level in the Danube has necessitated the temporary shutdown of the Paks NPP, which generates nearly half of Hungary’s electricity. The European Commission stated that it is prepared to hold an emergency meeting of the Electricity Coordination Group if necessary.
“While the operator has emergency measures in place to ensure nuclear safety, an event of this nature could further strain the regional electricity balance,” European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told Euronews. She added that the Commission is ready to convene a special meeting of the Electricity Coordination Group if needed.
Magyar cautioned that Hungary could face an energy crisis as early as next week due to the temporary shutdown of the Paks NPP, which relies on the Danube for cooling. This marks the first complete shutdown of the plant since it began operations 42 years ago.
“This means that starting Monday at the latest, 2,000 megawatts of Hungarian electricity production will be lost, while demand in the residential and public sectors continues to grow due to the heat,” he said Thursday evening. The government has urged the public and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours from 17:00 to 22:00, particularly advising them to limit the use of air conditioners and washing machines.
Government Measures and Regional Consequences
Magyar reported that the government has also prepared a plan to temporarily limit electricity consumption at industrial enterprises on a rotational basis and intends to increase output at other power plants. “Given the seriousness of this unprecedented situation, we ask everyone — both large consumers and the public — to act responsibly,” he said. “It is in our common interest to avoid unplanned outages and unexpected systemic collapse, as seen in Western Europe and the Balkans.”
Andras Perger, an expert from the Hungarian NGO Energiaklub, told Euronews that starting Monday, Hungary could lose 25-30% of its electricity production, posing a serious test for the country’s energy system. He noted that part of the deficit could be addressed through imports from neighboring countries, although the region’s capacity is also limited.
Perger added that the situation is unlikely to result in large-scale regional problems, despite the increasing strain on Hungary’s energy system.
Challenges of Climate Adaptation
The Hungarian environmental organization Friends of the Earth Hungary stated that the situation surrounding the Paks NPP highlights the urgent need to accelerate climate adaptation in the energy sector. According to Akos Egert, the organization’s executive president, the country requires a more resilient and decentralized energy system that is less reliant on climate-vulnerable infrastructure and more focused on energy conservation, flexibility, and renewable energy sources.
European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen emphasized that Brussels is closely monitoring the situation in Hungary and Romania but currently does not perceive an immediate threat to energy security. She stated that the Electricity Coordination Group is prepared to assist countries with coordination and information exchange if necessary.
Source: Euronews
