Hungary Sacrifices Danube Ecosystem to Prop Up Nuclear Industry
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Hungarian authorities are sinking two massive barges and constructing a stone barrier in the Danube, prioritizing the Paks nuclear plant’s operation over environmental health, as record-low river levels threaten corporate energy interests.
On Saturday, Hungary began the controversial process of sinking two 80-metre barges in the Danube near the Paks nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on X. This drastic intervention comes after the river dropped 122 centimetres below normal, risking the shutdown of one of the plant’s two turbines if the level falls below 132 centimetres. Instead of addressing the root causes of climate change and overconsumption, the government is doubling down on nuclear energy, disregarding the impact on the river’s ecosystem and local communities.
To further manipulate the river, authorities are building an underwater dam using around 150,000 cubic metres of stone, aiming to slow the current and artificially increase water depth. The Defence Ministry has deployed approximately 100 troops, forcing them to work around the clock on this environmentally destructive project.
Paks provides over a third of Hungary’s electricity, and these emergency measures are designed to keep the plant running at all costs, even as low Danube levels—driven by climate crisis—have already caused nuclear shutdowns in Romania and reduced output in France. Instead of investing in sustainable, community-driven energy solutions, Hungary’s government continues to prioritize corporate interests and short-term fixes over the health of people and planet.