Eastern Europe and energy projects

Abstract

The completion of a joint Hungarian and Czech hydropower scheme on the Danube is being put in jeopardy by Hungarian fears that the river's ecology will be damaged. Yet if Hungary withdraws, the project's generating capacity could be reduced, which may force the Czechs to compensate by increasing their coalfired electricity generation causing other environmental problems. A compromise allowing the original amount of power to be produced while protecting the Danube is possible but becoming less likely because of increasing tension between the two countries.