Chisinau, Sept. 23 (SANA) Moldova has approved a 60-day state of emergency in its water and energy sectors as severe drought drives inflows into a key reservoir to around a third of the minimum level cited by the government, while rising energy costs add pressure ahead of winter.
About 22 cubic meters of water per second are flowing into the Novodnistrovsk reservoir upstream in Ukraine, well below the 60 cubic meters per second minimum cited by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.
The 101-seat parliament approved the emergency on Tuesday by 54 votes to 20, while 22 lawmakers did not cast ballots. The measure will take effect on Saturday, Sept. 26, giving authorities greater flexibility to respond to potential disruptions in water, energy and fuel supplies.
Moldova is experiencing a “severe hydrological deficit” on both the Dniester and Prut rivers that threatens water supplies, according to the Environment Ministry.
The ministry said particular attention was being paid to the Dniester, one of Moldova’s main water sources, and that authorities would be able to intervene more quickly and introduce temporary measures where necessary.
Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said restrictions on nonessential water use could become necessary.
Prime Minister Tofan described the combination of drought, conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the destruction of refineries as a “perfect storm” that has driven up energy costs and increased pressure on Moldova’s energy sector.
He said the country was entering the cold season with several major risks converging at the same time.
Moldova depends heavily on imported natural gas and electricity. Similar states of alert have been in place in the energy and water sectors since July amid severe drought and are due to expire on Friday.
The country has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian energy since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, increasingly turning to energy imports from European Union countries.
Moldova declared an energy-sector state of emergency in March after Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid severed a key power link connecting the country with Romania.
That same month, a Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric plant polluted the Dniester River, leaving thousands of Moldovans without water.
R.H/M.F
