A method for fragmenting and/or weakening pourable material includes guiding a material stream of pourable material immersed in a process liquid along an annular or arcuate channel past a high-voltage electrode assembly. The high-voltage electrode assembly, which includes one or more generators, generates high-voltage punctures through the material flow. Material is supplied to the material stream upstream of the high voltage electrode arrangement. Material is guided away from the material stream downstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly.