Hungary is set to allow its Paks nuclear power plant to exceed the temperature limit for a section of the Danube River where it discharges cooling water. This decision comes as the country faces increasing challenges due to climate change. Currently, the regulation mandates that the Danube water temperature cannot exceed 30°C to prevent overheating and maintain ecological balance. If this limit is reached, the plant must reduce its output until the river cools down.
The Hungarian energy ministry announced a new plan allowing the plant to surpass this temperature limit if absolutely necessary. This exception would require permission from the energy minister and would be applied on a case-by-case basis. The ministry's statement highlighted that not adjusting the limit could disrupt the energy supply for domestic consumers, especially during periods of low river water levels and high temperatures.
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The Paks plant, with four Russian-built VVER 440 reactors, has a total capacity of about 2,000 megawatts. These reactors, operational since the early 1980s, are scheduled to be decommissioned between 2032 and 2037. To address future energy needs, Hungary plans to expand the facility. Russia's Rosatom will build two additional VVER reactors, each with a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, to support the plant's operations beyond its current configuration.
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