Severe Drought Lowers European River Levels and Threatens Energy Supplies

Prolonged heatwaves and record low water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers have triggered an energy crisis in Central and Eastern Europe. In Romania, the military detonated a rocky outcrop in the Danube riverbed to improve the flow of cooling water to the Cernavoda nuclear plant, which provides approximately 20 percent of the country's electricity. Despite the operation, the plant has already seen one of its two reactors stop functioning. Romania's caretaker Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that carmakers Dacia and Ford have agreed to suspend production until August 19 to reduce electricity consumption.

Hungary narrowly avoided a total shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant, though the facility was running at little more than 10 percent capacity on Monday. The Hungarian government requested that industrial users and households curb electricity consumption, and electric freight trains were temporarily stopped to stabilize the grid. In Serbia, the Iron Gate hydroelectric plant operated at roughly one fifth capacity, prompting Prime Minister Djuro Macut to call for a reduction in the use of high energy appliances like air conditioners.

Beyond energy production, the drought has severely impacted freight transport. The Rhine has hit record lows in Germany and the Netherlands, forcing shipping authorities to consider spreading cargo across more vessels to reduce weight. In Italy, the Po river reached a historic low, leading authorities to raise the drought alert level to high due to risks to drinking water and saltwater intrusion affecting irrigation. While some researchers note no clear long term trend in rainfall, they state that human caused climate change is increasing evaporation and making these drought conditions more likely.