Why has the Djerdap hydroelectric plant reduced its production?

Due to historically low Danube water levels, the water inflow has dropped to just 1,450 cubic meters per second, forcing the plant to operate at a quarter of its capacity.

Does Serbia have backup energy sources?

Yes, the situation is better on the Drina River, where the Perućac hydroelectric plant has 140 gigawatts in reserve, and the country also relies on coal-fired thermal power plants, especially the Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant.

What are the forecasts for the coming days?

All of Serbia is under a red weather alert, with temperatures expected to range from 36 to 39 degrees until the end of the week, with a perceived temperature of up to 48 degrees in the sun.

How is the crisis affecting electricity prices?

Electricity prices on the exchange exceeded 500 euros per megawatt-hour on Monday, a level not seen since the energy crisis of 2022.

World

Danube at Record Low: Serbia's Power Utility Battles Historic Drought

A.D. · 04. 08. 2026. | 3 min

Djerdap Hydroelectric Plant Operating at 25% Capacity, Electricity Prices Surpass €500, and Red Weather Alert Issued Nationwide

Summary

The Djerdap hydroelectric plant is operating at only a quarter of its capacity due to historically low Danube water levels.
The energy minister warns that all production shortfalls will have to be paid for at high exchange prices.
All of Serbia is under a red weather alert, with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees and a perceived temperature of 48 degrees.
Reserves include the Perućac hydroelectric plant with 140 gigawatts in its artificial lake and coal-fired thermal power plants.

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Extremely low water levels on the Danube and an unprecedented heatwave have pushed Serbia to the brink of an energy crisis. The country's largest hydroelectric plant, Djerdap, is barely delivering a quarter of its usual output, while the Ministry of Mining and Energy on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, called for "full commitment from everyone in the energy sector" to ensure a stable electricity supply.

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović noted that water inflows at Djerdap are being coordinated with the Romanian side. She also revealed a worrying figure: on Monday, August 3, inflows dropped to a historic low of just 1,450 cubic meters per second. Due to unfavorable hydrological conditions along the entire course of the Danube, electricity generation from Serbia's hydropower sector has been drastically reduced.

Perućac as a Reserve, Coal as a Backbone

The situation is somewhat better on the Drina River, where the reversible hydropower plant Perućac is located. The minister stated that the artificial lake on Mount Tara currently holds 140 gigawatts of reserves. This amount of energy, she assessed, is "sufficient to respond in case of unforeseen circumstances."

In these extraordinary circumstances, Serbia is relying on its large coal-fired thermal power plant capacities. Key players include the thermal plants in Kostolac and, notably, the Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant in Obrenovac, which comprises four units and annually produces more than 50 percent of the electricity needed by the domestic market.

Exchange Shock and Minister's Appeal

Additional pressure is coming from the exchange. On Monday, August 3, electricity prices were above €500 per megawatt-hour, a level not seen since the last energy crisis in 2022. "Everything not produced will have to be paid for, which is why it is essential to plan and monitor the situation to the fullest, with the necessary commitment of all employees in the energy sector," emphasized Minister Đedović Handanović.

Red Weather Alert and Heat Up to 48 Degrees

The weather forecast offers no relief. All of Serbia is under a red weather alert on Tuesday, with temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius, especially in the north of the country. Hot weather is expected through the end of the week, with maximum temperatures between 36 and 39 degrees. Meteorologists warn that during the peak of the heatwave, with direct sun exposure, the perceived temperature could reach up to 48 degrees.

Even the mountains offer no respite from the heat. On Zlatibor, in western Serbia, 30 degrees was measured around noon today, with temperatures expected to rise by another degree in the coming days. The scale of the drought on the Danube is vividly illustrated by photographs of historically low water levels taken in Vukovar.