Hungary to build Danube weir to protect nuclear plant
Budapest, Aug 12
The Hungarian government has ordered the immediate construction of a submerged weir on the Danube to prevent extremely low water levels from disrupting operations at the Paks nuclear power plant, country's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Wednesday.
Speaking after an on-site government meeting at the plant, Magyar said construction would begin on Thursday between Paks and Dunaszentbenedek, initially using 35,000 cubic metres of rock and later increasing to 110,000 cubic metres.
The structure is designed to prevent the Danube's water level at the plant's cooling-water channel from falling below minus 90 centimetres and could eventually raise the local water level by as much as one metre, according to Magyar, Xinhua news agency reported. As a temporary emergency measure, the government also ordered two 80-metre barges to be placed on standby at Paks.
Magyar said the barges could, if necessary, be deliberately sunk across the river to temporarily raise the water level by up to 20 centimetres until the permanent structure is completed.
A final decision on whether to use the barges is expected on Friday, he said.
The announcement came after the Danube's water level rose temporarily in recent days, allowing the Paks plant to begin increasing its output on Monday.
However, Magyar said water-management forecasts indicated that the river could fall again to around minus 136 to minus 137 centimetres within four to five days and could drop below minus 140 centimetres next week without intervention, potentially again threatening the plant's operation.
He said no significant rainfall was expected in the Danube catchment area in the coming days and weeks, meaning extremely low water levels could persist for months.
The government estimated the cost of the interventions at around six billion forints (about 18 million US dollars), while a complete shutdown of Paks would cost the state budget at least 50 billion forints per month, Magyar said.
Around 100 soldiers have been deployed to assist with the project, with work planned around the clock. Magyar said the government would classify the project as a priority investment because of its urgency.
The Paks nuclear power plant, located about 100 km south of Budapest, is Hungary's only commercial nuclear power facility and accounts for a significant share of the country's electricity generation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting engineering solution. The idea of sinking barges as a temporary measure is quite creative, though I wonder about the environmental impact on river ecology. Does Hungary have contingency plans for the fish and aquatic life in the Danube?
This is what proactive governance looks like. Spending 18 million dollars now to prevent a 50 million per month loss later is a no-brainer. We need more of this strategic thinking in India, especially for our critical infrastructure projects. The Danube is a lifeline for Europe, and protecting it is essential.
Climate change is real folks. Low water levels in Europe, floods in India - we are all in the same boat. Hungary is adapting, and we should learn from them, especially for our coastal and river-based projects. The nuclear plant provides significant electricity, so protecting it makes absolute sense.
I appreciate the transparency in sharing cost estimates - 6 billion forints for intervention vs 50 billion per month for shutdown. That kind of cost-benefit analysis should be standard practice everywhere. Hope the construction stays on schedule and protects the plant effectively.
It's good they're moving fast, but I hope they've done thorough environmental assessments. Sinking barges in a major European river seems drastic. That said, nuclear safety is paramount, and I understand the urgency. Let's hope this is a temporary solution, not a permanent ecological compromise.
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