A historic drought and record-low water levels in the Danube have pushed Hungary into an energy crisis that is rapidly escalating into a political confrontation, with the far right urging supporters to consume more electricity in defiance of government appeals for energy-saving.
After weeks of headlines focused on the Tisza government’s reforms, impeachment of senior officials, and the increasingly visible struggles of former prime minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party,. attention has shifted to the heat dome, the energy crisis, and water shortages triggered by extreme drought and a historic drop in the Danube River’s water levels.
Prime minister Péter Magyar last week announced emergency measures to review and potentially restrict the electricity and water consumption of large industrial consumers that are not public-service entities. He also asked residents to try to reduce their energy use during evening hours.
Magyar said that the Danube’s record-low water level could force the Paks nuclear power plant to shut down completely. The plant relies on water from the Danube for cooling, and if the river level drops too far, its pumps will no longer be able to draw enough water. As a precaution, the Paks plant began reducing its power output in stages during the final week of July.
