Drought forces Serbia to cut hydropower output

Serbia has experienced a sharp drop in hydroelectric power generation, according to the country's energy minister. Speaking on Sunday, he said the cause is drought and the Danube River's water level has fallen to its lowest point on record.

Hydropower stations rely on the flow of water to spin turbines and generate electricity. With the river level so low, the amount of water available to pass through the plants is greatly reduced. As a result, Serbia has considerably less electricity output from hydropower than it would normally have.

The Danube is one of Europe's most important rivers, and its water levels are closely watched in several countries. Serbia's heavy use of hydroelectric generation makes the recent decline especially notable. The minister's statement confirms that the country is now dealing with exceptionally dry conditions, which have pushed the river to a historic minimum.

Under these conditions, Serbia's hydroelectric plants are running at significantly reduced capacity. The energy minister announced the development on Sunday, marking one of the most serious effects of the current drought on the country's energy infrastructure.