Record drought forces nuclear shutdowns, chokes European river trade
Record low water levels on the Rhine and Danube are forcing nuclear plant shutdowns in Hungary and Romania and cutting Rhine cargo capacity to 20%, threatening energy supplies and industrial supply chains.
Severe drought has driven water levels on Europe’s primary inland waterways to unprecedented lows, forcing Hungary and Romania to shut down nuclear reactors for the first time and crippling cargo transport on the Rhine.
The 44-year-old Paks nuclear plant in Hungary, which supplies nearly half the country’s electricity, has cut output to less than 50%. The facility is expected to shut down completely next week, with the outage potentially lasting weeks as the Danube remains too low to provide cooling water. "An energy crisis situation could arise beginning Monday," Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted on X, urging coordinated restraint.
The nuclear shortfall is compounded by a malfunction at Hungary’s largest gas-fired plant in Százhalombatta. Authorities have ordered automakers and battery manufacturers to reduce power and water consumption, while asking citizens to avoid charging electric vehicles and using air conditioning during peak evening hours.
Romania is facing similar constraints, having shut down one reactor unit at the Cernavodǎ power plant with a second scheduled to follow. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan warned the outages could last one to two weeks and appealed to the public to reduce evening power consumption.
The economic damage extends west to Germany, where the Rhine has fallen to near record lows, according to the WSV navigation agency. Shallow water has forced cargo vessels to reduce their loads to roughly 20% of normal capacity. The Rhine is a crucial artery for grains, minerals, ores, coal and petrol, creating potential bottlenecks for companies operating in the EU’s largest economy.
Dutch officials reported the Rhine at its lowest recorded level as it enters the country, with further declines expected. The Netherlands has enforced use restrictions across most of the country since mid-July, hitting the agricultural sector particularly hard. Meanwhile, on the Danube, Hungary’s transport ministry said cargo operations have ground to a near halt from Slovakia to Bulgaria, with vessels unable to travel fully loaded.
The crisis shows no immediate signs of abating. Forecasters expect temperatures to exceed 38C across the region in the coming days with no significant rainfall anticipated, ensuring continued pressure on both European power grids and industrial logistics.
