PHOTO // Sweden and UNDP invest in protecting Dniester River, providing high‑performance equipment for rapid response in case of pollution

The Republic of Moldova is strengthening its response capacities in the event of major environmental incidents on the Dniester River, with support from external partners. The Government of Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have delivered to the Ministry of Environment an initial batch of rapid‑response materials, essential for limiting the impact of hydrocarbon pollution on aquatic ecosystems.

As part of the first tranche, delivered on 30 April, 3 tons of specialized materials were received. Among them is a high‑performance biodegradable sorbent made from natural peat, which enables the efficient neutralization of petroleum products discharged into the water.

The efforts to provide equipment will continue in the coming period with a new batch of materials, which will include floating barriers for isolating oil slicks, as well as absorbent wipes and rolls intended for cleaning affected surfaces.

The importance of this equipment is critical, given the Dniester River’s status as a strategic water resource for the Republic of Moldova. Ludmila Gofman, project manager at UNDP Moldova, emphasized the need for these modern mechanisms.

“Rapid and effective interventions in the event of pollution incidents are necessary to protect a strategic water resource such as the Dniester River. Through this contribution, the partners are strengthening their support for the development of modern response mechanisms and for enhancing the capacities of responsible institutions, with a direct impact on environmental protection and public health,” the UNDP representative noted.

In addition to intervention equipment, the project “Supporting the authorities of the Republic of Moldova in the sustainable management of the Dniester River” has also allocated resources to the Water Quality Laboratory of the Environment Agency. The laboratory has received two batches of reagents and consumables, an investment that will significantly improve processes for monitoring and analyzing the river’s chemical parameters.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by Sweden and UNDP to support transboundary management and integrated water resource management, ensuring a safer environment for the population on both banks of the Dniester.