State of emergency set up for 60 days in Moldova

Chisinau, January 20 / MOLDPRES /- Parliament adopted today the Decision on declaring a state of emergency in Moldova for a period of 60 days.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița came to the plenary with the proposal to establish a state of emergency. The decision is based on the report of the Commission for Exceptional Situations on the need to declare a state of emergency and takes into account the fact that gas shortages directly and immediately affect the security of the state and citizens.

Under the document, during the state of emergency, the Commission for Emergencies will issue provisions for the implementation of the following measures: disposal, if necessary, of rationalization of natural gas consumption and other energy resources; adopting the necessary decisions in order to ensure rapid natural gas supply actions, including by derogation from the normative provisions; adopting decisions to empower suppliers and system operators to act for the procurement, transportation and distribution of natural gas and other energy resources throughout the country. Coordinating the activity of the mass media regarding: informing the population about the causes and proportions of the exceptional situation, about the measures taken to prevent the danger, liquidating the consequences of this situation and protecting the population; familiarizing the population with the rules of behavior during the exceptional situation; introduction of special rules for the use of telecommunications; the establishment of rapid instruments for the collection of payments from consumers for natural gas used; the establishment of a special regime for the rapid procurement of natural gas, if necessary; allocating the financial means to ensure the procurement of the necessary volumes of natural gas, in case of need; take other necessary actions to prevent, mitigate and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.

The provisions of the Commission for Emergencies are binding and enforceable for the heads of the central and local public administration authorities, economic agents, public institutions, as well as for citizens and other persons in Moldova.