A drought in Serbia has pushed the Danube river to a record-low level, forcing the country to significantly reduce electricity generation from its main hydroelectric plants, the Balkan country's energy minister said Sunday.
The two biggest plants, Djerdap I and Djerdap II, have been reduced to an output of just 20% and 30% of their respective capacities, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic told state RTS television.
The facilities provide around 18% of Serbia's electricity generation.
Hydroelectric power accounts for nearly a third of Serbia's energy mix, with thermal plants making up the rest.
But with the Danube hitting historic lows in some areas because of waves of extreme hot weather sweeping Europe since May, their operations have suffered.
