The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has raised serious concerns about the construction of two hydropower plants on the Danube River, warning that they would inflict significant harm on local communities, the economy, and vital ecosystems. The first project, an 840 MW hydropower plant between Bulgaria’s Nikopol and Romania’s Turnu Magurele, has already received approval, despite WWF and 37 other environmental organizations urging the European Commission to revoke this decision.
The proposed plants, with a combined cost of approximately 2 billion euros, are expected to cause more damage than benefits, echoing previous assessments that led to their rejection by former socialist authorities. WWF emphasizes that the European Commission’s prioritization of these projects, despite known risks, is alarming. They call for a thorough reevaluation of the projects to safeguard both human interests and natural environments along the Danube.
