A historic drought has driven the Danube River to its lowest level in decades, creating an energy emergency in Hungary. The reduced river depth jeopardises the cooling water supply for the Paks nuclear power station, the country’s sole nuclear facility, because the plant’s pumps cannot obtain sufficient flow when the water falls below a critical level.

The prime minister announced that a complete shutdown of the plant could become unavoidable if the river continues to fall. In response, an emergency decree was issued that targets large industrial users, allowing regulators to review and potentially limit their electricity consumption. Households have been asked to shift usage to off‑peak periods, while the government says it will avoid a supply shortfall by increasing electricity imports from neighbouring markets.

Energy analyst László Miklós described the import pledge as largely symbolic and noted that the European electricity market operates under common rules that limit direct government intervention. Slovakia has offered assistance, and the European market framework restricts any unilateral actions that could distort supply.

Compounding the situation, the Dunamenti gas‑fired power station, Hungary’s largest gas plant, was offline for several days after a technical fault. Its resumption of operation on 2 August has eased immediate pressure on the grid.

Political fallout

Former prime minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party have accused the current administration of negligence, arguing that the water‑level drop was predictable and that the prime minister should have been dealing with the crisis rather than attending the Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. The prime minister countered that long‑term neglect of water‑pumping infrastructure during the previous sixteen‑year rule left the country ill‑prepared for the drought. He referenced a statement by former construction and transport minister János Lázár, recorded in a December committee hearing, in which Lázár admitted that the government had not created a water‑scarcity strategy. Political analyst Szabolcs Dull described the Fidesz criticism as opportunistic, noting that the party had not previously addressed drought or energy security in its platform.

Public reaction and broader concerns

The far‑right blog Vadhajtások, praised by Orbán, urged readers to keep air‑conditioners and freezers at maximum power as a protest against the energy‑saving advice, spreading an unfounded conspiracy theory that Germany, Austria and Slovakia were deliberately restricting Danube water. Union representatives warned that urging households to increase consumption could further strain the grid and raise electricity prices for families, and called for a coordinated European response, asking the EU to consider temporary relief measures for countries facing climate‑induced water shortages.

The episode highlights Europe’s vulnerability to extreme weather, especially where nuclear plants rely on river‑based cooling and ageing infrastructure. The government will need to balance short‑term import contracts with longer‑term investments in water management and alternative cooling technologies in the coming weeks, a balance that could shape Hungary’s energy security and the political fortunes of the incumbent Tisza administration and the opposition Fidesz party as summer heat persists.