The Ministry of Mining and Energy issued a statement on Tuesday calling for full commitment from all participants in the energy sector. The primary objective of this measure is to ensure the continuity and security of the country's electricity supply, which is currently facing significant production challenges. This step was taken in response to the unstable situation in the energy market.
The key reasons for the sharp decline in production are a combination of an extreme heatwave and record-low water levels on the Danube. The largest domestic hydropower plant, Đerdap, is forced to operate at only a quarter of its usual capacity. Water inflows at this critical facility are coordinated in constant consultation with the Romanian side, but the water level has dropped to a historic low of 1,450 cubic metres per second.
Despite the difficult situation on the Danube, conditions are somewhat more favourable on the Drina river. The Perućac hydropower plant, located in a man-made lake on Tara mountain, currently has 140 gigawatts of reserve capacity. These reserves are considered sufficient to respond to unforeseen circumstances or additional disruptions to the system, thereby alleviating pressure on the national grid.
The Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, highlighted the importance of synergy among all available resources. To offset the losses in hydropower generation, Serbia is relying on significant capacity from thermal power plants. Plants operating on coal, such as those in Kostolac and the TE Nikola Tesla complex in Obrenovac, play a key role in stabilising the system during this crisis.
