On Wednesday 19 August 2026, Luxembourg's Ministry of the Economy reported continued pressure on the country's petroleum product supply chain amid disruptions affecting river and rail transport.
Luxembourg relies on a combination of ships, trains and lorries for its petroleum product supplies. According to the ministry, this logistics chain has faced constraints on several of its main routes in recent weeks, prompting authorities to closely monitor supply flows.
Further pressure is expected from next week due to planned railway works on the Luxembourg-Wasserbillig-Trier line, which will make the route temporarily unavailable. The line provides access to the port of Mertert, a key hub for fuel transit, meaning its closure will place additional pressure on other forms of transport.
At the same time, low water levels on the Rhine and Moselle due to drought are reducing the amount of fuel that can be transported by river. Operators have consequently had to adjust their routes to maintain supplies to filling stations.
Barge deliveries to the Liège region, which plays an important role in supplying many Luxembourg importers, could also face delays. The Albert Canal has been partially closed since Monday 17 August 2026 to facilitate firefighting operations linked to the wildfire in the High Fens in Belgium.
Against this backdrop, the ministry said it was closely monitoring developments and encouraging greater coordination between those involved in the logistics chain to optimise supply flows.
The ministry stressed that Luxembourg's energy security remained assured, although it could not completely rule out delays or localised supply pressures under the current exceptional circumstances.
