Moldova declares 60-day state of emergency for energy and water sectors

Lawmakers in Moldova voted Tuesday to impose a 60-day state of emergency on its energy and water sectors, citing declining water levels in the Dniester River and global conflicts driving up energy costs.

The country faces a "severe hydrological deficit" along the Dniester and Prut rivers that threatens water supplies, according to the Ministry of Environment, which said the declaration enables faster interventions and temporary safeguards.

"Particular attention is paid to the situation on the Dniester River, which is one of the main water sources of the Republic of Moldova," the ministry said.

The 101-seat legislature approved the measure in a 54-20 vote, with 22 lawmakers not voting. The emergency takes effect Saturday.

The decision comes after President Maia Sandu led a National Security Council meeting Monday on the "impact of the international energy crisis" and "measures to strengthen national energy resilience" before winter.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said Tuesday that a "perfect storm" of drought, Middle East and Ukraine conflicts, and destroyed refineries has driven up energy costs and strained the domestic sector.

Moldova relies heavily on imported natural gas and electricity. Similar alert states, expiring Friday, have been active in both sectors since July amid Europe's widespread drought.

"I’m not saying that tomorrow we’ll run out of gas, diesel, electricity or water," Tofan said. "The problem is that we are entering the cold season with several major risks overlapping at the same time."

Tofan noted that about 22 cubic meters of water per second flows into the upstream Novodnistrovsk reservoir in Ukraine, far below the required minimum of 60 cubic meters per second.

Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said limits on nonessential water use may be needed, adding: "We must have all the tools required to intervene,"

Moldova declared an energy emergency in March after Russian attacks on Ukraine's grid severed a main power link to Romania. That month, a Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric plant polluted the Dniester, leaving thousands without water.