August the 9th, 2026 – Croatia could end up facing natural gas problems this autumn, with underground natural gas storage facilities being filled poorly.
As for natural gas prices, Grozdanić says that prices in the European Union have risen to a little over 60 eurps per megawatt-hour (MWh). Poslovni reports that towards the end of summer, concerns about the supply and prices of energy sources in the colder part of the year always begin. This year they have been spurred by the conflict in the Middle East that shows no sign of ending, as well as by the extreme drought that has left river levels at record lows, affecting the operation of hydropower plants and the Krško Nuclear Power Plant.
Midweek, the Krško NPP, the electricity production of which covers 16 percent of domestic market needs, temporarily and preventively reduced the reactor’s output by 20 percent due to the risk of overheating of the water in the Sava River, writes Miroslav Filipović for N1.
“This isn’t a limitation for technological reasons, but for environmental reasons, i.e. for the protection of the bio-environment and the temperature of the Sava River,” energy expert Ivica Jakić explained this move by the Krško NPP to our portal.
the situation with electricity
Neither Jakić nor energy expert Igor Grozdanić expect that, despite all the difficulties, the electricity supply will be endangered this autumn.
“There will be enough electricity on the market thanks to the nuclear power plants over in France, and let’s not forget that the Czech Republic and Slovakia together have eight nuclear reactors which, like the Krško NPP, are cooled by air coolers and are not dependent on the amount of cooling water from rivers or lakes,” Jakić said.
“If nothing extraordinary or catastrophic happens, I don’t expect shortages or problems in the electricity supply. And if prices rise, they will not rise too much,” Grozdanić said. Croatia imports a significant share of its electricity from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it is produced in thermal power plants that operate without difficulties. In addition, Jakić notes that electricity is purchased under contracts, so-called futures, at a pre-agreed price, whereby the supplier is obliged to deliver it at a fixed price and within a fixed delivery period.
petrol and petroleum products
After four consecutive price reductions, the first summer price increase of petroleum products followed in mid-July — only diesel fuel, and not a large one. But two weeks ago all fuels rose significantly: LPG by five cents per litre, eurosuper 95 by eight cents, and eurodiesel by as much as 16 cents per litre.
Next Tuesday a new price increase is expected, but only for diesel fuel. According to RTL’s unofficial information, a litre of eurosuper 95 should be two cents cheaper, while eurodiesel and blue diesel should rise by three cents per litre. The exact amount will be known on Monday when the Government decides on a possible intervention in prices. Grozdanić doesn’t really expect major shocks regarding fuel prices this autumn.
“As for fuels, the situation is more stable than on the markets of other energy sources in our country. Regardless of the situation in the Middle East, prices are always higher in summer because of the tourist season,” he says.
natural gas is where the problems could arise
However, there could be problems with natural gas, Grozdanić notes.
“The fact is that underground natural gas storage facilities are being filled poorly. But that is expected because prices are very high for this time of year. The American-Iranian war has reduced the gas supply and everyone is waiting to see how the situation in the Middle East develops. The situation is interesting because European natural gas stocks have fallen to their lowest level since 2011. Under current market conditions it does not pay anyone to fill the storage facilities. Gas storage facilities need to be filled before winter, but people are still waiting,” he says. Gas stocks across EU storage facilities are currently a little below 58 percent, Grozdanić emphasises, and the fill level of the Okoli Underground Gas Storage is roughly the same.
On Friday, PSP Okoli was at 57 percent fill. The Croatian Government decided at the end of July that by 1 October the fill level of the Okoli storage must be at least 85 percent, with an allowed deviation of up to five percent.
As for natural gas prices, Grozdanić says that prices in the European Union have risen to a little over €60 per megawatt-hour (MWh). “This autumn the gas price could be in the range of 55 to 75 euros per MWh,” Grozdanić concluded.
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