Environment Minister at Novodnestrovsk plant: Pollution source stopped, risks remain
The pollution source in Novodnestrovsk was shut down. The Minister of Environment, Gheorghe Hajder, inspected the hydroelectric power plant in Ukraine today and confirmed that there are no longer any visible oil stains on the waterway.
"I came here personally to ensure that the source of pollution has been stopped. I want to announce that, as of now, no additional oil stains have been observed. It is crucial for us to be sure that the source of pollution has been eliminated. We will continue to work, including with our colleagues from Ukraine, to minimize the impact of this pollution," stated the Minister of Environment in a video post on Facebook.
The Minister also emphasized that the Republic of Moldova remains vigilant in this situation.
"There are still oil product stains along the Nistru that will likely reach the Republic of Moldova," the Minister added.
The European Union is expanding its support for the Republic of Moldova in addressing the pollution crisis in the Nistru, caused by oil spills. New equipment and resources are being delivered through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, activated on March 13, to assist authorities in limiting the environmental impact and protecting drinking water sources.
According to the Delegation of the European Union in Chisinau, Belgium will provide 43 floating dams, three oil skimmers, and 11 storage tanks. Slovakia will contribute 42 protective barriers, 10 petrol-powered sludge pumps, 220 liters of Bioversal solution, and 30 containers for drinking water.
These new contributions complement the assistance already mobilized by other EU Member States. Romania has sent experts and water management modules, while Luxembourg has provided high-capacity generators. Personal protective equipment has been delivered through rescEU reserves in Poland and Germany.
Additionally, through the project "EU4Moldova Resilient: Secure State, Strong Communities", funded by the European Union and implemented by the Solidarity Fund PL, biodegradable absorbent materials have already been delivered and utilized in the Criuleni and Dubăsari districts.
In the coming period, authorities will receive an additional five tons of sorbent and other necessary supplies for interventions.
We remind you that the critical situation on the Nistru is the result of an unprecedented cross-border pollution incident. This incident was triggered by a drone attack by the Russian Federation on energy infrastructure in Ukraine during the night of March 6 to 7. Among the targets hit was the Novodnestrovsk hydroelectric power plant, where explosions caused significant leaks of transformer oil and other petroleum products into the Nistru.
The wave of pollution reached the Naslavcea locality in the Ocnita district of Moldova on March 10 and then spread to several areas in the northern part of the country.
Laboratory analyses confirmed that the levels of petroleum products and aromatic hydrocarbons exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations.
The state of emergency enabled rapid interventions to mitigate environmental impacts on the population, including the installation of absorbent dams, continuous monitoring of water quality, securing water intake stations, and temporarily halting water supply from the Nistru in several localities.
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Moldova has initiated a criminal investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the pollution. The authorities in both Chisinau and Kiev have publicly attributed responsibility for the incident to the Russian Federation.
