Moldovan PM announces requesting of activation of EU Civil Protection Mechanism, in context of situation on Dniester

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu today announced that he had requested, through the Interior Ministry (MAI), the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in the context of oil discharges into the Dniester River.

“In the context of the oil discharges into the Dniester River, following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, we have requested, through the MAI, the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism,” the PM informed.

The prime minister stressed that, through this mechanism, support is being requested on behalf of European partners for the quick mobilization of specialists’ teams and the equipment needed to manage the situation on the ground. This refers to equipment for capturing, retaining and collecting oil impurities from the water, as well as mobile stations for testing water quality, the PM noted.

“This support is necessary, in order to strengthen the intervention capacities of the responsible institutions – the Environment Ministry, through the Environment Agency and Apele Moldovei (Moldova’s Waters), the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) and the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) – which are involved in monitoring and managing the situation,” Alexandru Munteanu also said.

Additionally, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu requested the intervention of the Defense Ministry with military personnel, equipment and technical units.

Moldova’s authorities today announced that they had raised the alert level in the northern area of the country, after laboratory tests indicated that the permissible limits of certain pollutants in the water of the Dniester River had been exceeded. The announcement was made by the Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder, who said that the situation is being constantly monitored and additional measures are being taken to protect the population. The problem arose after an oil substance originating from Ukraine, following a Russian attack on the hydropower plant, had reached the waters of the Dniester and continues to move downstream.

At the same time, the National Crisis Management Center today ruled to create a joint crisis cell, with specialists from national institutions and experts from neighboring countries, in the context of the pollution of Dniester’s water.