If current energy conservation efforts can be maintained, stricter intervention will not be necessary, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Monday evening at the MAVIR electricity grid control centre after a meeting of the Defence Council.
Péter Magyar: grid load below projections
In a video posted on Facebook, he said the grid load is around 6,300MW, well below projections. Currently consumption is more than 500MW lower than forecasts prepared earlier by experts, the Hungarian news agency wrote. “We hope to maintain this advantage during the remaining critical hours today and in the coming days,” he said.
Water levels at Paks are currently stagnant, and “we are right on the edge”. In the coming hours, it will be decided whether output can be maintained at the last turbine, he said, adding it was an encouraging sign that the Danube’s water levels had stabilised in Budapest and had even risen by 1cm today.
“I am in constant contact with the leadership of the Paks nuclear plant. I receive reports even at night, and I will provide immediate updates to the country in the event of any significant change,” the prime minister said.
Wealthiest Hungarian’s companies remain silent
Magyar urged companies to continue energy conservation, noting however that some firms had not yet participated in voluntary efforts to reduce consumption. He mentioned the KALL Ingredients factory, which is linked to Lőrinc Mészáros’s business interests, that “received tens of billions of forints in state subsidies and favourable loans” under the former government. So far, the company has not responded to requests to voluntarily reduce its 13MW consumption, he said.
The prime minister added that forecasts suggested that Wednesday could be one of the most difficult days, as the heat may raise building and asphalt temperatures to levels that could increase energy consumption. “A lot will depend on the conscious behaviour that Hungarian companies and people have demonstrated in recent days,” Magyar said.
He urged companies to fully maintain their voluntary consumption reductions between 5pm and 10pm for the entire week and asked the public to continue monitoring their energy use during this period in the coming days.
Water-use restrictions and other extraordinary measures introduced in Hungary to avert crisis
Public should not listen to fake news
Magyar also said that authorities are continuously monitoring Danube water levels, rainfall reports in the Danube basin, and the balance of energy consumption.
The prime minister asked the public to rely only on reliable sources and not to share unfounded or false news and misinformation. He thanked Hungarian companies and people for their responsible approach.
“We will manage. Together, we will defend Hungary and emerge stronger from this difficult period,” the prime minister declared.
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