Hungary begins sinking barges to protect Paks nuclear power plant

Hungarian authorities on Saturday began the controlled sinking of two barges in the Danube near the Paks nuclear power plant as decreasing water levels threatened the plant's operation again, the country's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.

"We have received good news, because the water level has already risen by one centimeter at the power plant's pumping station," Magyar told a press conference at the site.

The two barges, positioned across part of the river near Paks, had initially been lowered by around 20 centimeters as part of an emergency operation aimed at raising local water level and maintaining sufficient cooling-water intake for the plant.

According to Magyar, current forecasts indicate that the Danube at Paks could fall below minus 132 centimeters early Monday, a level at which one of the plant's two operating turbines would have to be shut down.

A further decline below around minus 140 cm could force the entire nuclear plant offline, he said.

"We have to prevent this, and we will prevent it," Magyar said, explaining the decision of sinking the barges.

The emergency measures are being taken alongside the construction of a temporary riverbed sill designed to raise the water level around the plant's cooling-water intake.

Authorities said water levels, flow velocity and the condition of the riverbed were being continuously monitored.

The latest intervention follows weeks of exceptionally low water levels of the Danube caused by prolonged dry and hot weather.

Low water levels have repeatedly affected operations of the Paks nuclear power plant in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, declining levels forced the plant to reduce output, before a temporary rise in the Danube allowed Unit 2 to gradually increase production again earlier this week.

Located about 100 km south of Budapest, Paks normally generates around half of Hungary's electricity.

Its four reactors rely on water from the Danube for cooling.