Record-Low Danube Disrupts Nuclear Plants, Strands Cruises

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessRecord-Low Danube Disrupts Nuclear Plants, Strands CruisesThe Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, fell to record low levels this week as heat waves scorched large swaths of the continent, adding to a summer of extreme weather that has strained vital waterways, disrupted energy supplies and ignited deadly fires.Author of the article:Andras Gergely and Eamon Akil Farhat You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, fell to record low levels this week as heat waves scorched large swaths of the continent, adding to a summer of extreme weather that has strained vital waterways, disrupted energy supplies and ignited deadly fires.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe consequences are rippling through the Danube basin. Hungary is taking emergency steps to protect its only nuclear power plant, Serbia has tapped fuel reserves as barge traffic slows, Romania and Slovakia are grappling with disruptions to river navigation, and authorities across the region are bracing for further declines.Along a stretch of the Danube winding through Budapest, the water level fell to 24 centimeters by 4 p.m. Wednesday, dropping four centimeters below the previous day’s level and surpassing the record low of 33 centimeters set in 2018, according to Hungary’s national water management authority.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIn anticipation of the river falling further, the country has moved floating pump stations near its only nuclear power plant to help secure cooling water, Environment Minister Laszlo Gajdos said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. The plant announced it would shut down one of its four reactors because of the low water levels. They’ve also stranded river cruise boats, a staple of Budapest’s tourism industry, and forced the suspension of several ferry crossings.Blistering temperatures since June, combined with scant rainfall, are disrupting transportation of Europe’s energy supplies and nuclear generation. As the latest heat wave intensifies, the Rhine is on track to reach a record low on Thursday morning, earlier than expected.Elsewhere, in Romania, a Swiss-flagged cruise ship ran aground on the Danube late Monday while en route to Bulgaria, forcing the evacuation of all passengers. Authorities will shut down the second of its two reactors either later Wednesday or early Thursday, after already halting its first reactor earlier this week.In Serbia, regulators allowed fuel retailers to tap emergency reserves after low water levels curtailed barge shipments of fuel along the river. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic chaired an emergency meeting on the critically depleted Danube, which is disrupting hydropower generation, oil and grain shipments, and irrigation in the northern breadbasket of Vojvodina.Serbia’s Energy Ministry has warned that fuel imports by river barge are being disrupted because vessels can carry only about 25% of their normal loads to avoid running aground.Danube water levels in Slovakia have also fallen to their lowest in decades, interrupting river traffic. Vessels with deeper drafts can no longer navigate some stretches and have been forced to remain in port or at anchor until conditions improve, the country’s Transport Authority said. To conserve water, operators at the Gabcikovo hydropower complex have adjusted lock operations, a key bottleneck for vessels traveling downstream into Hungary.—With assistance from Irina Vilcu, Misha Savic and Daniel Hornak.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.