A major power outage struck Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, and parts of Croatia's coast on Friday, causing disruptions to businesses, traffic lights, and leaving residents without air conditioning during a heatwave.
The outage was attributed to a surge in power consumption due to high temperatures, which overloaded the systems. The interconnected power distribution network across the Balkans also played a role in the widespread blackout.
Temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the region, exacerbating the strain on the power grid. The outage led to the loss of electricity and wifi networks, resulting in traffic chaos in cities like Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Mostar.
In Montenegro, water supply was affected as pumps stopped working, and air conditioners failed, causing discomfort for residents and tourists. The situation was similar in Croatia's Split, where cars came to a standstill, and emergency services were stretched thin.
Officials worked to restore power throughout the afternoon, with most areas regaining electricity by the evening. However, the root cause of the malfunction was still under investigation, with reports of a fire in a transmission line near the Bosnia border.
Albania also experienced a breakdown in an interconnector with Greece, adding to the challenges faced by the region's energy infrastructure. The rapid growth of solar energy investments in the Western Balkans has strained the transmission systems, highlighting the need for upgrades to accommodate the shift away from coal.
While power was quickly restored in Albania, the risk of further shutdowns remained high due to ongoing high power demand and extreme heat levels. Industry experts emphasized the importance of enhancing the energy grid to support the transition to cleaner energy sources.
