Vučić: Pančevo Refinery on the Brink of Shutdown, Danube Could Become Unnavigable Within 2-3 Days
Critically low Danube water levels threaten Serbia's energy stability, while Hungary faces historic nuclear plant halt.
Critically low Danube water levels threaten Serbia's energy stability, while Hungary faces historic nuclear plant halt.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić warned on Monday that the country's only oil refinery in Pančevo could be forced to temporarily suspend operations due to critically low Danube water levels. This announcement comes as the entire region grapples with the consequences of extreme drought and heatwaves.
"There are four key processes for which we need the Danube and its water. We are facing major problems. We will do everything in our power, and I hope we won't be forced to shut down the refinery," Vučić told reporters, as reported by N1 Serbia. He added that if operations must be halted, the Danube would likely become unnavigable within two to three days.
Vučić also highlighted pressures in the international oil market. "We will face countless economic hurdles, and God forbid the refinery has to close again. I hope it doesn't come to that. We can absorb the financial and economic impact, but it becomes unbearable if benchmark prices keep rising. There's simply no oil, no diesel," he said.
The Republic's emergency situations task force held an urgent meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026, to consider measures to preserve energy stability. Despite the severity of the situation, Vučić told citizens not to worry just yet, adding that he would inform them "when the situation warrants concern."
The Danube crisis has broader regional implications. La Repubblica correspondent Tonia Mastrobuoni reports that in Budapest, the nuclear facility that typically produces 40% of Hungary's electricity has been halted for the first time in 44 years. Meanwhile, Serbia has reduced hydroelectric power generation precisely due to low water levels.
Due to the record drought, wrecks of Nazi ships sunk back in 1944 are emerging from the Danube's riverbed, vividly illustrating the historically low water levels. Hungary is simultaneously battling temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Extreme weather conditions are also affecting Southern Europe. As journalist Massimo Ferraro writes for La Repubblica, this year's costs from extreme weather events in Italy have reached 1.5 billion euros. This amount includes costs for protecting agricultural fields and lost working hours, particularly impacting staples of Italian cuisine such as rice, wheat, and milk.
