Hungary has been forced to scale back or shut down its largest nuclear power plant, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, as a severe heatwave impacts the country. The decision was prompted by the rising temperature of the Danube River, which is essential for the plant's cooling processes. As water levels drop and temperatures climb, the river's capacity to safely cool the reactors has been compromised, leading authorities to initiate a shutdown to prevent technical risks.

While the plant remains a critical component of Hungary’s national energy grid, the current environmental conditions have made full-capacity operation unsustainable. The government has not yet provided a specific timeline for when the plant will return to full operational status, noting that the situation remains dependent on weather patterns and river conditions. This incident underscores a broader challenge for European energy providers, as extreme weather events increasingly threaten the reliability of traditional power generation methods that rely on natural water sources for cooling. There is currently no indication of a wider power grid failure, though the loss of such a significant energy source places additional pressure on the national electricity supply.