Drought "paralyzes" the Western Balkans - Extreme heat threatens agriculture and energy in the countries of the region
The Western Balkans are experiencing a severe drought due to the African heat wave. Countries in the region are facing water crises and declining energy production.
The Western Balkans region is facing a significant drought, as the heat wave spreading across Europe, caused by an African anticyclone, continues to create problems with agriculture and electricity.
Temperatures in central Albania reached 40 degrees Celsius the day before, and meteorologists warned that there would be a lack of rain until September. The country's rivers are almost dry due to scant rainfall during the winter and spring.
The high temperatures have prompted Albanian authorities to help local agriculture with irrigation networks. A project to divert water from the northern Mat River to irrigate about 40 square kilometers of farmland in the area was completed a few days ago. It has also had a negative impact on Albania’s energy production, which comes mainly from the country’s hydroelectric power plants in the north. The national energy corporation spent up to 60 million euros on imported energy in the first half of this year.
Serbia's state meteorological institute has also warned that "extreme drought" is affecting the country's crops, while water levels in rivers and lakes have dropped. Small towns and villages across the country are facing drinking water restrictions.
In Kosovo, a water shortage has closed an outdoor swimming pool in the capital Pristina, which people used to cool off in the summer heat. The Gërmia pool, located on the outskirts of the city and part of a regional park, was built in the late 1980s as a recreational destination and is considered one of the largest on the continent. At this time last year, the pool was attracting between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors each day. But this year, pool staff were unable to provide the 20,000 cubic meters of water needed to keep the facility running properly.
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