Moldovan Leaders Request Emergency Powers Amid Energy and Water Crisis
Government Response to Dniester River Crisis
By Alexander Tanas
Request for State of Emergency
CHISINAU, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Moldova's pro-European leaders said on Monday that they were asking parliament to declare a state of emergency for energy and water supply in connection with dangerously low levels on the Dniester River it shares with Ukraine.
Prime Minister's Statement
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, writing on social media after a meeting of Moldova's Security Council, said the government would present the appeal to the chamber on Tuesday to give the administration the powers needed to tackle difficulties.
He said giving the government a free hand to act was critical as Moldova secured much of its gas, oil and electricity from outside the country.
Immediate Government Actions
"We can't afford to wait for a crisis to start looking for solutions. This will give the government the necessary tools to step in at the first sign of need—and only where it's truly necessary," Tofan wrote.
"The government will be ready to provide the economy and citizens with water, electricity, and heat, and vulnerable households with the support they need."
Presidential Leadership and EU Ambitions
President Maia Sandu, who has spearheaded a drive for Moldova to join the European Union by 2030, had earlier chaired the Security Council meeting and said its members had recommended introducing emergency regulations quickly.
"The share of renewable energy sources has increased, but we still don't have the necessary capacity to cover consumption during peak hours," she told a press conference.
"However, we need to be ready for any changes and provide solutions, no matter what is going on outside the country."
Background and Recent Developments
Ongoing Concerns Over Dniester River
Moldova's government has been concerned with low levels on the Dniester for months.
Joint Actions with Ukraine
A joint meeting of Moldovan and Ukrainian experts last month reduced flows through the Dniester hydropower station in southern Ukraine to permit irrigation of crops in Moldova.
Impact of Russian Attack
The situation on the Dniester was further complicated last March by a Russian attack on the hydropower plant that triggered an oil spill and polluted water systems in Moldova.
(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Alistair Bell)
