An extraordinary session of the Republic Headquarters for Emergency Situations will be held today due to severe challenges facing Serbia’s energy sector, triggered by a prolonged heatwave and a drastic fall in water levels along the Danube.

Pančevo Oil Refinery facing temporary shutdown?

The President of Serbia warned last night that the low water level of the Danube could force one of the country’s key oil processing plants to halt operations.

“We will do everything we can, and I hope we won’t have to shut down the Refinery. If we are forced to shut it down, the Danube won’t be navigable in two to three days’ time,” stated Aleksandar Vučić, as reported by N1 citing the FoNet news agency.

Đerdap at historical lows

Hydroelectric power plants are also facing major disruption, with output plummeting to critical levels.

The Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, told RTS that the situation remains extremely challenging:

“Đerdap 1 is operating at 20 per cent capacity, and Đerdap 2 at 30 per cent. Inflows are at their lowest – just 1,500 cubic metres per second,” the minister stated, noting that inflows this low were last recorded in 2003, and before that in 1985.

Public urged to save electricity

Due to the tropical heat and the fact that summer electricity consumption has reached levels typically seen during winter, an urgent appeal has been issued to the public to conserve power.

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced that the headquarters would pass emergency measures at the meeting to relieve pressure on Serbia’s grid.

“The situation in the energy sector is currently serious and demanding, primarily due to the exceptionally low water levels of the Danube and extreme heat, which is driving up demand even further,” the Prime Minister said in a written statement.

(Nedeljnik.rs, 03.08.2026)

https://www.nedeljnik.rs/hitna-sednica-republickog-staba-za-vanredne-situacije-na-stolu-mere-zbog-rekordno-niskog-vodostaja-dunava/