Energie: Stromkrise legt Autoproduktion in Rumänien vorübergehend lahm

An unprecedented energy crisis has temporarily halted automobile production in Romania, according to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. Dacia and Ford, two automobile manufacturers, suspended their operations in Romania until August 19, following a government appeal to reduce energy consumption voluntarily. This production halt resulted in a nationwide reduction of 200 megawatts in electricity demand.

Bolojan added that other companies would also lower their consumption, contributing to a total drop of 200 megawatts. The crisis has been triggered by a heatwave and prolonged drought, leading to extremely low water levels in the Danube River. To cope, the country had to drastically cut its energy production, with Nuclearelectrica, a power company, shutting down one of the two reactors at its nuclear power plant due to insufficient water for cooling.

Nuclearelectrica typically supplies one-fifth of the national electricity demand. Currently, Romania imports between 2000 and 2500 megawatts of electricity daily, and Bolojan reiterated his plea for continued voluntary energy reduction by businesses, private households, and state institutions. Similarly, Hungary is facing energy challenges, with its sole nuclear power plant, Paks, nearing complete shutdown due to low water levels in the Danube.

The plant, which normally supplies about half of Hungary's electricity, is now operating at just 10% of its capacity of two gigawatts, with the last turbine possibly remaining in operation until Tuesday. Private households and businesses in Hungary have also responded to the government's call for energy conservation, with the pharmaceutical company Richter announcing a reduction of more than half in its electricity consumption over the next three weeks.