Hungary Sinks Barges to Lift Danube Levels and Save Paks Nuclear Plant
Hungary is sinking two barges and building a stone sill in the Danube River to raise water levels at the Paks nuclear plant, which supplies over a third of the country's electricity. Extreme heat and drought have caused record-low water levels, threatening reactor cooling. Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the measures on August 15, 2026, after the water level dropped 122 cm below normal. The intervention aims to prevent a forced shutdown of one of the plant's two turbines, which was projected to occur if levels fell further. This follows earlier partial shutdowns and output reductions at Paks due to insufficient cooling water.