nuclear-news

The vast impacts of a dry Danube

By Victoria Heath, Geographical 20th Aug 2026

Emergency engineering works are underway in the Danube in Hungary to prevent critically low river levels from shutting down the nation’s key nuclear power plant, which provides Hungary with more than one-third of its electricity.

Due to extreme heat, the Danube has reached a record low this month – falling within 8 centimetres of its previous record low – impacting power production at the Paks nuclear plant. Typically, nuclear power plants are built near rivers and coastlines to use water to cool the reactors.

Two 80-metre (260-foot) barges in the river will be sunk by Hungarian authorities to raise water levels so that Paks can continue its normal operations. Currently, it is operating at just 25 per cent of its capacity.

The water is so low in the Danube that around twenty German World War II shipwrecks still containing live ordnance – sunk around eighty years ago – have surfaced on the riverbed.

‘European rivers are already sick,’ said conservationist at Riverwatch Ulrich Eichelmann. ‘This heat wave makes the damage more visible.’

According to the Hungarian government, plans to restore the water level of the Danube – Europe’s second-longest river – include building a submerged, dam-like structure in the riverbed known as a riverbed sill – a process that will take weeks.

Last week, neighbouring Romania shut down its last operating nuclear reactor due to low water levels in the Danube…………………………………………………….. https://geographical.co.uk/news/the-vast-impacts-of-a-dry-danube

August 24, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, EUROPE