Ghaznawi: 1,800 hotel rooms and 9,000 housing units to be made available in Historic Jeddah    Month-long "Wonderland" festival to begin in Jeddah on Monday    Saudi Security forces arrest 20,778 illegal residents in a week    Philippine President signs laws reaffirming maritime rights in South China Sea    Suicide bombing at Pakistan train station kills at least 26, including soldiers and railway staff    Federal and state agencies investigate racist mass text messages targeting Black Americans    Iran denies involvement in assassination plot against US officials, including Trump    Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to global cultural collaboration at G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brazil    Riyadh Season 2024 draws 4 million visitors in less than a month    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    Saudi Pro League: Al Qadsiah extend positive run with 2-0 win over Al Fayha    Al Ittihad defeats Al Orobah 2-0 in Saudi Pro League    Piercing Arrow 2024: Saudi Armed Forces participate in joint exercise in Egypt    Royal Commission lifts restrictions on land transactions in northern Riyadh    Three charged in connection with Liam Payne's death    Uproar in Ghana after president unveils his own statue    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Balkans hit by blackouts as heatwave persists
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 06 - 2024

Four Balkan countries suffered simultaneous power cuts lasting several hours on Friday as the region sweltered in a summer heatwave.
Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and large areas of the Croatian coast were hit by the afternoon blackouts, brought on by surging demand for power after households switched on air-conditioning to combat the high temperatures.
In Bosnia and Croatia, traffic lights were knocked out, causing transport chaos in Sarajevo, Split and other big cities.
Suppliers said they had largely restored power by the evening, but were still trying to identify where the failure had occurred in the four countries' interlinked power systems.
The shutdowns were first reported at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT), with even water pumps grinding to a halt in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica.
The loss of power also dealt a blow to the tourist season in Croatian resorts, with holidaymakers in Dubrovnik left in disarray after restaurants, pubs and supermarkets closed their doors.
Temperatures across the region neared 40C as the long, hot afternoon wore on.
Montenegro's Energy Minister Sasa Mujovic said on national TV that "a sudden increase in power consumption due to high temperature" was to blame.
Montenegro's Vijesti TV carried reports of a fire in a power transmission line in a rugged area near the border with Bosnia, although the station did not make clear how this could be connected with the blackouts.
In Albania, officials said power was restored within half an hour, but that there was a high risk of further blackouts, as energy usage was still high.
Energy production in the western Balkans is shifting away from the use of coal, which accounts for much of the region's greenhouse gas emissions.
But despite a big drive to invest in solar energy, the creaking power infrastructure is not yet fully prepared for the change, industry officials say. — BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.