A heatwave forces Hungary's largest nuclear plant offline for the first time in 44 years

Hungary said on Sunday, 2 August 2026, that a heatwave has forced the shutdown of its largest nuclear power plant for the first time in 44 years.

According to the report, scorching temperatures and drought have pushed the Danube river to record low water levels, disrupting the reactor cooling systems. Nuclear plants depend on a continuous intake of river water for cooling, and a sharp fall in water levels interrupts that cycle.

The shutdown comes in weeks when unprecedented summer heat has been straining Europe's power grid. Lost nuclear output at the peak of the consumption season usually means substitution with fossil fuels and stronger demand for imported power and gas, a path that can feed through to energy prices across the continent.