Balkan countries experience power blackouts due to summer heat overwhelming the electrical system, according to the minister.
Southeastern Europe experienced a widespread power outage due to an unusual surge in electricity consumption triggered by extreme heat. The Energy Minister of Montenegro, Sasa Mujovic, attributed the problem to the combination of a heavy burden on the network, a sudden spike in power usage because of high temperatures, and the heat itself overloading the systems.
In Montenegro's capital Podgorica, a 24-year-old student named Gentiana commented to Reuters that this blackout was virtually inevitable under such sweltering conditions, as temperatures soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Electrical and internet networks faded from around 1 p.m., as per reports from officials and social media users.
Reporters from Reuters witnessed traffic light malfunctions causing traffic congestion in Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo, along with the cities of Banja Luka and Mostar. In Podgorica, water supply issues arose as pumps malfunctioned. Air conditioners stopped functioning, causing ice cream to melt in tourist shops. Even in the Croatian coastal city of Split, cars stalled, while ambulance sirens echoed throughout the city.
Mujovic, the Montenegrin Energy Minister, explained in a broadcast that experts were working to identify the origin of the malfunction. There were also reports of a fire in a 400KW transmission line located in a remote area bordering Bosnia, though it's uncertain if this event contributed to the power outage.
Albanian Energy Minister Belinda Balluku reported a similar incident in an interconnector between Albania and Greece. He suggested that the intense heat and large amounts of power in the transmission system may have caused this technical issue. Power was quickly restored in Albania, but the country remained at a high risk of additional shutdowns due to persistent high power usage and temperatures.
Officials in the energy industry affirm that recent shifts in the region's energy supplies have placed considerable stress on the transmission systems. The western Balkan countries have experienced a surge in solar energy investment aimed at addressing a power crisis. However, the infrastructure is not yet equipped to manage increased energy inputs, as mentioned by the president of the Energy Regulatory Commission of North Macedonia and other experts speaking to Reuters in April the previous year.
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Europe has been closely monitoring the power outages in the Balkan region, given its interconnected energy systems. The intense heat affecting the world this summer has placed a significant strain on electricity supplies across various continents.
