Moldova: 60 days of emergency due to risks of water and energy shortages

Moldova will place its water and energy sectors under a state of emergency for 60 days starting September 26. The Parliament approved this measure on Tuesday to enable the government to act swiftly in response to the risk of shortages, as the country faces severe drought and rising energy costs.

The legislation received 54 votes in favor and 20 against, while 22 deputies abstained from voting. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan assured that the country does not currently lack gas, electricity, fuel, or water, but it must prepare for multiple simultaneous risks ahead of winter.

Authorities describe a “severe hydrological deficit” on the Dniester and Prut rivers, two essential sources for the country’s supply. The inflow into the Novodnistrovsk reservoir, located upstream in Ukraine, has reportedly dropped to about 22 cubic meters per second, compared to a minimum deemed necessary of 60.

The government will be able to implement temporary measures more quickly to maintain essential services. Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder specifically mentioned possible restrictions on non-essential water use if the situation continues to deteriorate.

Energy is also under pressure. Moldova heavily relies on imports of natural gas and electricity, amid the backdrop of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as damage to several regional infrastructures.

The country had already placed both sectors on alert since July. In March, a Russian strike on the Ukrainian energy network disconnected a key line linking Moldova to Romania, while an attack on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric power station led to pollution in the Dniester.