Chisinau builds emergency fuel and water stocks under alert
The Chisinau Commission for Exceptional Situations mandated the creation of strategic fuel and water reserves on July 29. The decision follows a 30-day national state of alert triggered by energy supply chain bottlenecks and critically low water levels in the Dniester River.
The local emergency measures prioritize continuous operation of municipal public services, public transport, critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions across the capital.
Sector-level monitoring and inventory checks
Under the directive, district administrations will lead sector-level task forces to audit existing reserves and monitor institutional needs. Municipal departments must inventory current fuel supplies and immediately submit requests for additional operational capacity.
Municipal entities, including the Housing and Public Amenities Directorate and the Education Directorate, are authorized to acquire emergency water storage equipment. Purchases will focus on bulk storage containers, stationary tanks, and mobile water tankers.
Officials will also negotiate with private suppliers, bottlers, and distributors to secure delivery channels, transport vehicles, and bulk supply volumes if centralized systems experience disruptions.
Infrastructure monitoring and rapid procurement
Water utility operator Apă-Canal Chișinău will provide real-time monitoring of raw water intake, treatment operations, and distribution networks. Meanwhile, local authorities are preparing to deploy mobile water distribution points across all municipal districts.
All procurements for fuel, water tanks, pumps, and emergency generators will proceed under expedited public purchasing rules. Department heads must manage resources strictly to prevent service disruptions.
Funding for these emergency operations will come from approved municipal department budgets. Local officials will coordinate directly with national authorities to align municipal actions with central emergency measures.
The national alert remains a preventive action to protect public services and secure fuel supplies for the agricultural sector, according to Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. The government has also activated the Crisis Management Center to coordinate rapid responses.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
