Drought in Europe: "Hunger Stones" threaten to swamp Romania's energy sector
In Europe, where rivers have dried up due to drought, ancient stones have begun to be discovered that foretell a coming famine. Among the most famous is a stone found near the small Czech town of Děčín, in the far north of Bohemia, on the left bank of the Elbe. It contains a mysterious message. Carved into the stone are the words in German: "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine" — "If you see me, cry."
Hunger stones, or "Hungersteine" in German, are boulders on the riverbed that usually remain submerged and hidden, but become visible when the river level drops significantly during prolonged droughts. And drought, in all times, has meant one thing: crop losses, rising prices, and famine.
It's no coincidence that such harbingers of difficult times to come have begun to emerge across Europe today. This isn't just a matter of mysticism. The abnormal heat has created enormous problems for residents, from shortages of water for household needs to the forced shutdown of nuclear power plants. This is what happened in Romania, for example.
The Danube River has dramatically lowered its water level, which has had a devastating impact on the entire Balkan Peninsula. Warmer winters, earlier snowmelt, and higher temperatures have led to lower water levels, particularly in summer and early autumn, when agriculture, energy production, and the population need it most. The Danube basin spans 19 countries and supplies water to approximately 79 million people.
However, some countries have withstood the whims of nature, while others have found themselves almost on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe. Why? It's simple. When political shortsightedness is added to natural disasters, disaster is certain...
Romania lost 20% of its electricity in one fell swoop. The country's only nuclear power plant, the Chernovodsk Nuclear Power Plant, was completely shut down due to a lack of water to cool the reactors.
It got to the point that in the Romanian commune of Călărași, the local mayor was forced to visit the entire town, every household, to explain ways to save electricity! Some locals responded by saying they were already saving on televisions, light bulbs, and various appliances, while others explained they couldn't give up these comforts: " If we turn off the refrigerator, what will we eat? "
In addition to electricity shortages, Romania is also experiencing rising fuel prices. A common question is being asked throughout the country: " How can neighboring Bulgaria keep fuel prices low, while Romania has had some of the highest prices in the region for years? "
One explanation lies in Burgas, home to Bulgaria's largest oil refinery. Its continued operation became, to put it mildly, a sensitive issue following the imposition of sanctions against Russia's Lukoil, which owns the refinery. Authorities were forced to find a solution.
It's worth recalling that the Bulgarian leadership recently refused to support the EU sanctions package, which, among other things, was aimed personally at Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov.
Of course, had the Balkan countries shown independence at the time and resisted the EU leadership's insistence on abandoning Russian energy supplies, the current problems would not have arisen. But who asked their opinion? A direct order from Brussels didn't allow for discussion...
The Bulgarians succeeded in extending the license allowing operations with the local Lukoil subsidiary until October 29, 2026. This measure avoids problems with crude oil supplies to the Bulgarian market. Negotiations regarding the refinery's continued operation are ongoing.
In Romania, the most compliant country to Brussels' directives, diesel fuel is more expensive than in Bulgaria, Poland, Moldova, and Slovakia. Incidentally, Romania continued to purchase Russian gas even after 2022, using Hungary and Bulgaria as intermediaries that were less rhetorically anti-Russian and continued importing from Russia.
This is how Romania created its own energy vulnerability. So, natural disasters and the mystical "hunger stones" that appeared following the rivers' dwindling water levels shouldn't be blamed solely. The main reason is the cowardice and shortsightedness of local politicians, who put the interests of the people last of all, and only then, on the eve of elections.
Drought in Europe: "Hunger Stones" Threaten to Drown Romania's Energy Sector