Hungary expects Danube to rise, but nuclear power plant will continue to operate at reduced capacity

A nuclear power plant that provides almost half of Hungary's electricity will likely continue to operate at reduced capacity despite rising water levels in the Danube River, which is used to cool it, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.

The Danube level should temporarily rise thanks to rains in Austria, but the situation at the Paks nuclear power plant remains "difficult," the Hungarian said in a video posted on Facebook.

The power plant has been operating at only 10 percent capacity since last week due to a prolonged heat wave that has hit much of Europe and record low river levels, Reuters reports.

"We must find a solution for the operation of the Paks nuclear power plant, because the Hungarian economy cannot function for months without it," the Hungarian said later at a briefing.

The government is working on solutions

Last week, Hungary called on companies and citizens to reduce electricity consumption in the evening, and decorative lighting on historic buildings in Budapest was dimmed to save energy.

The Hungarian also said today that temperatures are expected to drop and that the country's energy and water supplies are stable, meaning there is no longer a need for austerity measures.

However, he said that the situation in Paks remains "difficult" and that the government is working on solutions in case the low water level becomes a permanent phenomenon.

"We expect the water level to rise by a good 20 centimeters in the next few days, but since no more precipitation is expected from tomorrow, it is likely that this increase will be temporary," said Magjar.

He later said there was a "small chance" that another turbine at the power plant would restart on Monday, which would double production, Reuters reports.

The planned expansion will be reviewed.

The Hungarian also said that a review of the planned expansion of the power plant has become even more necessary, and that the project is already costing twice as much as originally planned.

The government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban awarded the Paks 2 project, without a tender, to the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom in 2014, and the project has been delayed for years.

The Hungarian also said that, according to current plans, Paks 2 would also be cooled with water from the Danube.

"It is certain that the Pax 2 project must be reconsidered from this perspective as well," he said, mentioning other methods, including cooling towers.

The Hungarian also said that the government would examine what investments were needed to make Hungary's energy and water supply more resilient.

The Hungarian said last week that Hungary would develop four gigawatts of wind power capacity by 2030 to diversify its energy sources. He also said the government would tender for 700 megawatts of wind power capacity by August 31.