Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on August 1 that his government is prepared to assist Hungary in addressing an imminent energy crisis linked to the operational status of the Paks nuclear power plant.
According to Fico, Bratislava is closely monitoring conditions at the Hungarian facility and has committed to providing support to the neighboring nation. The potential shutdown of the plant stems from concerns over dwindling water levels in the Danube River, which is critical for reactor cooling.
“We are following the energy crisis in Hungary very closely and express our solidarity with our neighbor as well as our willingness to help,” Fico stated in a recent communication.
Fico also revealed that he discussed potential emergency electricity supplies with Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Denisa Sakova, and Branislav Strychek, head of the Slovak Power Plants company. Additionally, Fico confirmed that Slovakia’s nuclear power plants at Bogunice and Mochovce remain operational.
On the same day, Hungary shut down the second of its four Paks units following a decline in Danube water levels, reducing electricity generation capacity to under 2,000 megawatts—less than a quarter of its normal output for a plant that supplies 40% of the country’s power consumption.
