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Hungary sinks Danube barges to protect Paks nuclear plant
To prevent a total shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant due to record-low water levels in the Danube, the Hungarian government has begun an emergency intervention to raise the river's level.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the operation includes the controlled sinking of two 80-meter-long barges placed side by side to increase water depth. Initial reports indicate the water level at the pumping station has already risen by one centimeter. The project also involves the construction of a long-term sill using approximately 145,000 to 150,000 cubic meters of rock, which is expected to raise the water level by up to one meter.
The Paks plant provides roughly 40 percent of Hungary's electricity, but extreme heat and low river levels have already forced a reduction in capacity, leaving only two of its eight turbines operational. Without these measures, officials warned that further drops in the Danube could necessitate a complete plant shutdown. The current operation involves approximately 130 personnel and 100 trucks.
Entities
Danube · Fidesz · Hungary · Paks Nuclear Power Plant · Peter Magyar · Strabag
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The water level at the pumping station has risen by one centimeter following the controlled sinking of the barges. electricityinfo.org · www.budapesttimes.hu · www.news.at · hvg.hu
- [● 3 SOURCES] A long-term solution involves constructing a sill using approximately 145,000 to 150,000 cubic meters of rock to raise the water level by up to one meter. www.news.at · www.budapesttimes.hu · hvg.hu
- [● 3 SOURCES] Currently, only two of the eight turbines at the Paks plant are operational. www.news.at · www.budapesttimes.hu · electricityinfo.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Paks nuclear plant provides approximately 40 percent of Hungary's electricity consumption. www.news.at · electricityinfo.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The operation involves 130 people and 100 trucks. www.news.at
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Hungarian government is sinking barges in the Danube to raise water levels for the Paks nuclear power plant. www.news.at · electricityinfo.org · www.budapesttimes.hu · hvg.hu
- [● 3 SOURCES] The intervention includes the controlled sinking of two 80-meter long barges placed side by side. www.budapesttimes.hu · hvg.hu · www.news.at
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 5,000 tons of stone arrived at the Paks site on Saturday. hvg.hu