Hungary’s HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research has warned in a position paper that proposals to keep the Paks nuclear power station generating electricity during extremely low Danube river levels by damming the plant’s cold water channel would conflict with fundamental nuclear safety principles.

In the paper, HUN-REN said nuclear energy is an indispensable part of Hungary’s electricity generation and security of supply, but nuclear safety “must take priority over all other considerations.”

The statement follow recent low water levels on the Danube, which led operator MVM to reduce output at Paks and warn that a halt to all electricity production could become necessary. Operators said last week that only one of four units, Unit 2, had remained operational at half of its usual output level. The other three units remain offline.

However, MVM said on 10 August that rising Danube water levels had allowed for the resumption of nominal power operation at Paks-2.