Cost analysis reveals hefty financial hit from Paks nuclear shutdown

In a recent REKK report, analysts quantified the economic impact of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant’s partial shutdown that began in mid-July and continued through late August. They measured the generation loss by comparing actual output, which fell below 1,750 MW, with a normal operating level of 1,850 MW, arriving at a total shortfall of 922 GWh. Applying quarter-hourly spot prices from the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform, they estimated the cost MVM incurred to purchase replacement electricity.

By subtracting the plant’s own production cost of roughly 14 Ft/kWh, derived from its 2025 financial statements, the study arrives at a sizable net loss for MVM. The authors note that the low-water situation was anticipated in earlier hydrological studies and national nuclear safety reports, suggesting that mitigation measures could have reduced the expense. They conclude that, despite MVM’s state ownership, the burden of the loss should not fall on the broader public.