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Rhine river drought causes fuel shortages in France and industrial disruptions
Low water levels on the Rhine river due to drought are causing significant disruptions to fuel supplies and industrial logistics across Europe. In eastern France, particularly in the Grand Est region, 14 percent of gas stations reported supply issues, with some departments like Haut-Rhin seeing shortages at up to 50 percent of stations.
Due to the low water levels, tankers are currently restricted to carrying approximately 350 tons of fuel, a sharp decline from the 1,500 tons typically transported under normal conditions. In Germany, the water level at Kaub reached a record low of 130 centimeters, hindering navigation.
The crisis is also impacting the German industrial heartland. At the Port of Duisburg, ship loading capacity has fallen to one-third of its usual level, forcing a shift toward rail and road transport. This has led to increased freight costs, with petroleum product transport rates reaching 200 euros per ton between Karlsruhe and the Netherlands.
Entities
Duisburg · France · Germany · Port of Duisburg · Rhine · Rhine River · Steffen Bilger · Thyssenkrupp
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The supply issue affected 3 percent of gas stations across all of France. skopje1.mk · www.index.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The loading capacity of ships at the Port of Duisburg has dropped to approximately one-third of normal levels.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Freight rates for petroleum products between Karlsruhe and Dutch ports reached 200 euros per ton this month.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Transport Minister Steffen Bilger noted that ships are currently navigating over bare sandy shallows where they would normally carry thousands of tons.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The water level in Kaub, Germany, fell to a record low of 130 centimeters on Monday. skopje1.mk · www.index.hr
- [● 2 SOURCES] 14 percent of gas stations in the Grand Est region of France experienced supply issues on Friday morning. skopje1.mk · www.index.hr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Tankers are currently transporting approximately 350 tons of fuel, compared to over 1,500 tons under normal conditions. skopje1.mk · www.index.hr
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the Haut-Rhin and Territoire de Belfort departments, between 25 and 50 percent of gas stations reported problems. skopje1.mk · www.index.hr