An emergency meeting was convened in Germany due to the critical low water levels in the Rhine
German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger is holding high-level talks in Bonn regarding the critically low water levels in the Rhine and other rivers, which are already having a negative impact on navigation and freight transport.
Representatives from the shipping industry, ports, and the business community are participating in the talks to assess the current situation and develop the necessary solutions.
“We want to jointly assess the current situation and take short-term measures where necessary,” said Steffen Bilger.
According to the minister, the government also plans to develop long-term measures to help make Germany’s inland waterways more resilient to prolonged periods of low water levels, which are becoming increasingly frequent.
After the meeting, Bilger is scheduled to hold a press briefing.
Due to critically low water levels, inland cargo ships are forced to transport significantly smaller volumes of cargo, leading to higher transportation costs.
The sectors most affected by the situation are those that rely on the transport of bulk cargo, as restrictions on navigation complicate logistics and increase costs for businesses.
This is reported by DW.
The German chemical industry has warned of the risk of reduced production due to low water levels in the Rhine and other rivers. The cause 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.
