Even after a shutdown, the plant would continue to need large amounts of water to avert a nuclear accident. “As water levels continue to recede, the possibility of shutting down the plant is still there.” The expected closure of the Paks nuclear power plant for the first time since the facility came online 44 years ago risks a widespread energy crisis, he said. The two ⁠reactors have never been disconnected from the grid at the same time because of low water levels, Reuters said. In Hungary, Magyar thanked the nation for reducing personal and commercial energy consumption amid the crisis, with the country’s energy supply stable as a result.