Danube drought triggers nuclear shutdowns in Romania and Hungary

Romania shut down both Cernavoda reactors on July 29, 2026, after Danube levels dropped too low for cooling. Hungary took one Paks reactor offline; PM Peter Magyar warned a full shutdown could follow July 30 or 31. Paks supplies nearly half of Hungary's electricity. River flow at Romania's entry point is below a third of July's average, with further decline forecast.