Symbolic imageHeat and low rivers force power plant shutdowns across the EU
Power plants in six EU countries are idle because rivers are running low and warm, while shallow water has crippled cargo shipping on the Rhine. The European Commission called the bloc's energy situation tense on Thursday but saw no immediate supply risk.
What happened
- France took three of its 56 reactors offline over low flow on the Meuse and Moselle, and throttled three more.
- Hungary's sole nuclear plant is largely shut by record-low Danube water; one Cernavoda reactor in Romania is offline.
- Italy's red alert covers cities from Palermo to Bolzano; Piedmont declared a drought and wildfire emergency this week.
- Hungary darkened Parliament and the Chain Bridge at night; Duisburg port reports loadings at about a third of normal.
- Petroleum freight from Karlsruhe to the North Sea ports hit 200 euros per ton, above the 130-euro record of August 2022.
The view from outside
The New York Times frames the Rhine's record low mainly as a supply-chain and growth risk for Europe; Reuters notes Austria set successive national heat records this week, peaking at 41.2°C on Wednesday.
What could happen next
- EDF plans nearly 9 billion euros over fifteen years to adapt its nuclear and hydropower plants to heat and drought.
- Hungary and Slovenia filed early warnings in Brussels, the step before a crisis state requiring emergency aid.
- Romania is preparing to sink four rock-filled barges into the Danube to buy its working reactor a few days.
- Germany's transport minister was due to meet industry and port bosses in Bonn on Thursday; Rhineland-Palatinate wants a Rhine deepening fast-tracked.