Hungary to build Danube weir to protect Paks nuclear plant

BUDAPEST, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- 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, 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 meters of rock and later increasing to 110,000 cubic meters.

The structure is designed to prevent the Danube's water level at the plant's cooling-water channel from falling below minus 90 centimeters and could eventually raise the local water level by as much as one meter, according to Magyar.

As a temporary emergency measure, the government also ordered two 80-meter 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 centimeters 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 centimeters within four to five days and could drop below minus 140 centimeters 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 6 billion forints (about 18 million U.S. 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. Enditem