Moldova to impose 60-day energy and water emergency due to drought and rising costs

Moldova’s parliament has declared a 60-day state of emergency in the country’s energy and water sectors amid severely low water levels on the Dniester River and global conflicts that are driving up energy costsCHISINAU, Moldova -- Moldova voted on Tuesday to impose a 60-day state of emergency on its energy and water sectors due to severely low water levels on the Dniester River and global conflicts that are driving up energy costs.Moldova is facing “a severe hydrological deficit” on both the Dniester and Prut rivers, which threatens the European Union candidate country’s water supply, according to the Ministry of Environment, which said the measures would give the authorities the power to intervene faster and apply temporary measures where necessary to maintain supplies.“Particular attention is paid to the situation on the Dniester River, which is one of the main water sources of the Republic of Moldova,” the ministry said. The 101-seat legislature approved the measure in a 54-20 vote, with 22 lawmakers not casting ballots. The emergency takes effect on Saturday.The decision comes a day after President Maia Sandu chaired a National Security Council meeting on the “impact of the int...