Moldova Plans to Include Energy and Crisis Management Experts in the Dniester River Commission

The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova has initiated a revision of the composition of the Moldovan delegation to the Commission on Sustainable Use and Protection of the Dniester River Basin. The proposed changes aim to strengthen interinstitutional coordination on water security, energy management, and responses to hydrological crises.

The Commission is expected to include representatives of the Ministry of Energy, the Bureau for Reintegration Policies, the National Crisis Management Centre, and the water utility company Apă-Canal Chișinău. The representation of the National Administration Apele Moldovei and the institution responsible for hydrometeorological monitoring will also be updated following institutional restructuring.

The initiative reflects the role of the CH1 and CH2 hydropower facilities and the Dubăsari Hydropower Plant in electricity generation, the need for coordination concerning settlements on the left bank of the Dniester, and the growing risks of water supply disruptions in Chișinău during prolonged hydrological droughts.

Public consultations on the proposed amendments will continue until 11 November 2026.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research (IDR)

The proposed changes indicate a gradual transition from a predominantly environmental approach towards integrated management of the Dniester River's water resources, taking into account the interdependence of water supply, hydropower generation, environmental protection, and crisis response.

Under conditions of low water levels in the Dniester, coordinating hydropower operations with the needs of local communities and the requirements of river ecosystem protection is becoming increasingly important.

For Ukraine, the expansion of the Moldovan delegation should contribute to stronger bilateral coordination, timely exchange of hydrological data, and the development of joint mechanisms for responding to water shortages.

According to the Institute of Danube Research, key priorities include maintaining environmentally necessary river flows, ensuring transparency in reservoir operation, and implementing coordinated Ukrainian-Moldovan emergency plans for prolonged droughts.

Water security in the Dniester Basin is a shared strategic priority for Ukraine and Moldova, requiring systematic cross-border cooperation amid climate change and increasing pressure on water resources.