Environment minisry announces water level in Dniester River correspond norms

Chisinau, 20 September /MOLDPRES/- In the context of recent speculations about the alleged drying up of the Dniester River due to Hydropower Complex (CHE), the Ministry of Environment announces that “the water level in the Dniester corresponds to the norms, islets are a common annual phenomenon and constructive framework ".

A statement issued by the institution states that recent measurements carried out on the Dniester indicate a normal situation of the hydrological regime of about 120-130 m3 / s (the minimum required indicator being 100 m3 / s). The water level at the water pumping station in Coșernița remains stable above, or equal to, the minimum level required for operation.

According to the quoted source, the mud banks, the islands covered with vegetation and the submerged islands mentioned in the press, represent a characteristic annual phenomenon from the end of summer - the beginning of autumn.

The Ministry announces that “the subject of negotiations with the Ukrainian side is mainly related to the impact of the Dniester CHE in case its capacity will be increased by three more turbines. There are no environmental impact assessments, as required by the procedures set out in the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, known as the Espoo Convention. At the last meeting of the Transnistrian Commission, the Moldovan side requested such a study ".

"Negotiations between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine represent, first of all, a common activity of rational water management on the Dniester. It is a long, complicated and normal process of establishing a common denominator for the use of natural resources, located on the territory of two or more states. In the international experience of water diplomacy, there have been negotiations that have lasted for decades. However, an agreement regulating the operation of the Nistrean CHN from the perspective of protecting the Dniester River and providing water with sufficient quality and quantity for downstream water users in both states is in the interest of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to the same extent. " ,the communiqué reads.

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