The last turbine at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant is operating as the Danube reaches critical levels
The last turbine at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary continues to operate, even though the water level in the Danube near the plant has approached the threshold at which a shutdown is required. This was reported by Péter Magyar, according to “Ukrainska Pravda,” citing his Facebook post.
According to Magyar, the water level at the power plant was raised slightly at the critical moment. It is currently five centimeters above the shutdown threshold. The Danube’s water level stands at 83 meters 68 centimeters above sea level, while, according to the plant’s management, operations are scheduled to be suspended once it drops to 83 meters 63 centimeters.
Madyar explained that the water level in the Danube had already fallen below the previously set limit. At the same time, following the shutdown of the penultimate turbine on Sunday, the volume of cooling water discharged from the plant decreased. As a result, the water level at the outlet of the cold water channel basin temporarily rose by several centimeters.
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This allowed the last turbine to operate on Monday and, possibly, on Tuesday. “The next five days will be the toughest,” Madyar said. He noted that no rain is expected, and the heat is intensifying.
Madyar also thanked the country’s residents for keeping the load on the power grid lower than expected on Sunday. He urged the public to limit or reschedule any electricity consumption that can be postponed between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Large companies and industrial enterprises are currently expected to conserve electricity on a voluntary basis. According to Mádár, if the country’s energy security requires it, large consumers may be ordered to reduce their electricity usage. He had previously stated that the Paks Nuclear Power Plant might completely shut down all its reactors on August 4 or 5 due to low water levels in the Danube.
