Hungary sinking two huge barges to raise Danube water levels near Paks NPP

BRUSSELS. Aug 14 (Interfax) - Hungary will begin the controlled sinking of two 80-meter barges near the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on Friday in an effort to raise water levels in the Danube that are used to cool the reactors, European media quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar as saying.

This should raise the water level by 20 cm.

Soaring temperatures in Europe have led to record-low water levels on the Danube, reducing Hungary's only nuclear power plant to 25% of its capacity.

Earlier this week, Hungarian authorities announced plans to construct a bottom sill in the Danube. This measure is expected to raise the river's water level by approximately a meter.