Record-low Danube River levels threaten shutdown of Hungary's nuclear plant — CBS News — Top

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

As the Danube River breaks new record lows across much of its nearly 1,800-mile stretch through eastern Europe, curiosities of the past \u2014 including woolly mammoth bones in Bulgaria, sunken Nazi warships in Serbia and unexploded WWII artillery in Hungary\u0027s capital \u2014 are emerging. But there\u0027s also an energy crisis unfolding for Hungary\u0027s nearly 10 million people.The country\u0027s only nuclear power plant, known as Paks, is on the brink of completely shutting down. As of Wednesday morning, three of the plant\u0027s four reactors are not in operation, while one continues to operate at approximately 50% power.On normal days, the 44-year-old Soviet-designed facility, which sits on the Danube about 60 miles south of Budapest, generates roughly 50% of the country\u0027s electricity.But with a drought across southeast Europe now more than three months in, these are not normal days.Unlike nuclear plants in the U.S., U.K., Germany and France \u2014 many of which sit on smaller rivers and rely on giant hourglass-shaped cooling towers to recirculate water \u2014 Paks was built to suck water in directly from the Danube, a river long assumed too mighty to run dry. Approaching the plant, there are no telltale dumb-bell silhouettes on the horizon signaling its presence."Several factors will determine whether Hungary\u0027s most important power plant can avoid a complete shutdown in the coming days," said Hungarian Prime Minister P\u00e9ter Magyar, visiting the site Tuesday, attempting to balance reality while projecting optimism.\u00a0Just three months into office after his Tisza party ended Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u0027s 16-year rule in a landslide election this spring, Magyar has called on all Hungarians to unite to conserve power.\u00a0Hardly any precipitation is forecast for at least the next 10 days and the Danube\u0027s water levels are expected to slip even lower."There are a few critical days left. Today and tomorrow are certainly that," Magyar said. "I ask everyone to continue the national unity that has developed in the country. Let\u0027s do what our country demands."Magyar noted there is "light at the end of the tunnel," as forecasters predict a cold front moving in on Friday. The temperature in Budapest Wednesday and Thursday was expected to be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.The anxiety over Paks, Hungary\u0027s most critical piece of infrastructure, is the first real test of Magyar\u0027s young government.This week, more than 300 government-linked buildings in Budapest have been ordered to turn off their lights, with the romantic spotlights on popular tourist hotspots like Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge staying dark after the late-summer sunsets.To offset the loss of power generation, Hungary has nearly doubled its electricity imports from neighboring countries via the region\u0027s power grid, news site\u00a0Euractiv reported. Hungary\u0027s electricity network is among Europe\u0027s most interconnected, letting the country easily buy power from its neighbors. Costs have not hit consumers yet as the new government absorbs the difference for now."The electricity market is stable, and supply is problem-free," the government said, while urging households to avoid running washing machines and tumble dryers between 5 and 10 p.m. to ease pressure on the grid.Europe is the world\u0027s fastest-warming continent, warming more than twice as fast as the global average, according to Copernicus, the European Union\u0027s Earth observation and climate monitoring group.\u00a0The continent has warmed by around 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit compared to pre-industrial levels, with the fastest warming areas in eastern and parts of central Europe, as well as the European Arctic.

Record-low Danube River levels threaten shutdown of Hungary's nuclear plant — CBS News — Top | AIPROPX