Serbia's Đerdap 1 Hydro Plant Operates at One-Third Capacity Amid Drought

Đerdap 1, Serbia's largest hydroelectric power plant, is currently producing only a third of its average daily capacity because the Danube River is at exceptionally low levels. This drastic reduction is attributed to prolonged heatwaves and drought conditions that are affecting waterways across Europe, according to Dušan Živković, the general director of the state power company EPS.

Živković stated that both May and June saw the lowest production figures for those months since Đerdap 1 began operations in 1970. The plant, jointly operated by Serbia and Romania, has a total installed capacity of 1,140 MW. "Currently, the plant produces around 5,000 MWh per day, which is one-third of the average daily production," Živković told Reuters.

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Currently, the plant produces around 5,000 MWh per day, which is one-third of the average daily production.

The low water levels have not only impacted power generation but also shipping. Serbia's Minister of Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, noted that fuel imports in July fell to 25% of the planned monthly target because barges and tankers could only operate at 30-40% capacity due to the low Danube levels in Hungary, Serbia, and Romania.

Živković warned of potential future challenges, as forecasts suggest water inflows into the Danube could drop to around 1,500 cubic meters per second in early August, which is considered the biological minimum. This situation mirrors historical low levels, with the current readings approaching the absolute minimum recorded in 1909. Despite these concerns, Živković assured that Serbia's electricity supply would remain stable.

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Unfortunately, the forecasts are no better and some indicate that at the beginning of August we will have inflows (of water into the Danube) of around 1,500 cubic meters per second, which is the biological minimum.