Krško nuclear plant cuts output to 80% amid low Sava water levels
On the night of Thursday 6 August 2026 the Krško nuclear power plant (NEK) will begin a planned, controlled reduction of reactor power to 80 % – roughly 530 MW, down from its full capacity of 659 MW. The measure responds to exceptional hydro‑meteorological conditions on the Sava River: low water level and high water temperature that risk exceeding the environmental permit limits of a 28 °C average temperature and a 3 °C daily rise.
The plant, jointly owned by Slovenia’s GEN energija and Croatia’s Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP), supplies about 20 % of Slovenia’s electricity and 16 % of Croatia’s consumption. It has operated continuously since the end of its refurbishment in November 2025, achieving 280 days of uninterrupted operation. The last similar power reduction occurred in 2003 and lasted more than 90 days. If the conditions worsen, further reductions may be applied; full power will resume when the river’s temperature and flow allow. HEP says it can meet any shortfall through its own generation and purchases on the wholesale market.
Entities: Croatia · Environmental permit (OVS) · GEN energija · Gorazd Pfeifer · Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) · Jernej Vrtovec · Krško Nuclear Plant · Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) · Krško nuclear power plant (NEK) · Sava River · Slovenia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 15 SOURCES] Krško nuclear plant will reduce reactor power to 80 % on the night of Thursday 6 August 2026. (NEK announcement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) can meet any electricity shortfall by using its own generation and purchasing on the wholesale market. (HEP spokesperson)
- [● 14 SOURCES] If hydro‑meteorological conditions worsen, further power reductions may be applied; full power will resume when conditions allow. (NEK statement)
- [● 14 SOURCES] Krško nuclear plant supplies about 20 % of Slovenia’s electricity and 16 % of Croatia’s electricity consumption. (NEK information)
- [● 12 SOURCES] The last similar power reduction occurred in 2003 and lasted more than 90 days. (NEK historical data)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The reduction is caused by low water level and high temperature of the Sava River, which risk exceeding environmental limits of 28 °C average temperature and a 3 °C daily rise. (NEK environmental permit)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The 80 % output corresponds to about 530 MW, down from the plant’s full capacity of 659 MW. (NEK data)
- [● 12 SOURCES] The plant has been operating continuously since the end of its refurbishment in November 2025, achieving 280 days of uninterrupted operation. (NEK operational report)