Germany is preparing emergency measures due to low water levels in the Rhine, Danube, and Elbe
Germany is preparing emergency measures to support supply chains due to critically low water levels in the country’s key rivers. These include, in particular, the Rhine, the Danube, and the Elbe, which play a vital role in freight transport.
German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger stated that the government aims to help businesses maintain stable logistics amid this challenging situation.
“We cannot influence the weather, but we can ensure that our economy weather these difficult weeks in the best possible condition,” the minister noted.
One short-term support measure could be a temporary relaxation of the ban on truck traffic on Sundays and holidays.
Bilger plans to discuss this issue with representatives of Germany’s 16 federal states. The focus is on freight shipments that have been most severely affected by problems with river logistics.
“I have already spoken with some state transportation ministers and found that all of them are very willing to suspend the bans on Sunday and holiday traffic for as long as necessary,” he said.
The minister added that he expects to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
The authorities also plan to take measures to prevent additional delays in freight transport due to roadwork.
The state-owned company responsible for German highways has been instructed to minimize the impact of avoidable roadwork.
In addition, scheduled repairs to a lock on one of the main waterways have been postponed to avoid creating additional obstacles for logistics.
Rail transport is expected to play a key role in overcoming these logistical challenges.
According to Bilger, the freight operator DB Cargo has pledged to support industries affected by low water levels by shifting a significant portion of cargo from rivers to rail.
“It will collaborate with other companies in the industry to organize additional capacity throughout Europe and coordinate potential contingency plans with energy suppliers,” the minister added.
Thus, Germany plans to use road and rail transport as alternatives to river transport to reduce the risk of supply disruptions.
At the same time, Bilger assured that the government does not plan to address the issue of low water levels on the Rhine through measures that could harm the environment.
“We will not do anything that harms the environment,” he emphasized.
Environmental organizations had previously warned that altering the course of the Rhine could lead to a drop in groundwater levels. In addition, concentrating more water in the central part of the riverbed could cause the banks and the habitats along them to dry out, as well as increase the risk of erosion.
This was reported by dpa.
As a reminder, German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger is holding high-level talks in Bonn due to critically low water levels in the Rhine and other rivers, which are already negatively impacting navigation and freight transport.
The German chemical industry has warned of the risk of reduced production due to low water levels in the Rhine and other rivers. The reason is rising transportation costs and logistical complications.
As a reminder, water levels in France’s small rivers and streams had fallen to a historic low for this time of year as of the end of July, according to a report by the French Office for Biodiversity.
On August 3, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić spoke of serious energy problems in the country due to low water levels in the Danube. Due to difficulties with the supply of raw materials, the oil refinery in Pančevo may temporarily suspend operations.
