The Rybnitsa Steel Works has considerably improved its activity as regards the pollution of the environment and is the only commercial unit on the left side of the Nistru that complies with the environmental legislation of the Republic of Moldova, said Minister of Environment Rodica Iardanov. According to her, the Cement Plant in Rybnitsa is a greater polluter than the Steel Works. The Cement Plant of the Transnistrian region does not have any filter that would control noxious emissions and this significantly contributes to environmental pollution, IPN reports.
At the beginning of December, by a decision taken by the Commission for Exceptional Situation, the environmental permit of the Rybnitsa Steel Works was extended until December 31. The minister said the plant’s administration complied with the environmental rules imposed by the Moldovan authorities and set up filters that reduce noxious emissions.
“The Rybnitsa Steel Works is now the only commercial unit that complies with the requirements stipulated in the normative framework of the Republic of Moldova. Two inspection rounds have been conducted. Earlier, they presented either outdated or irrelevant documents regarding the situation and the Environment Agency formulated recommendations for improving the documents and activity and for submitting new documents,” Rodica Iordanov stated in the program “Reflection Points” on Vocea Basarabiei channel.
The minister noted the Cement Plant in the Transnistrian region pollutes the environment to a greater extent, but its administration refuse to have a dialogue with the Moldovan authorities and works in breach of the European environmental legislation.
“It is important to clearly know the source of pollution. According to our data, the Cement Plant doesn’t have any permissive document issued by the Republic of Moldova, does not comply and rejects any dialogue with the constitutional authorities. They consider they can work based on documents issued by the so-called Transnistrian authorities as particular protocols were signed earlier between Chisinau and Tiraspol by which it was decided that the documents issued on the left side of the Nistru will be recognized on the right side of the Nistru. We, as an EU candidate country, cannot pursue double standards or standards we cannot verify as we bear responsibility before the European Union for the quality of the air. This means that all the business entities, from both sides, must comply with the normative framework of the Republic of Moldova. The data we possess show the Cement Plant does not have any filter and this is serious,” stated Rodica Iardanov.
At the end of November, both the Rybnitsa Steel Works and the Cement Plant stopped work after Gazprom reduced the amounts of natural gas supplied to the Republic of Moldova. Later, based on an agreement reached by Chisinau and Tiraspol, the whole amount of Russian gas intended for Moldova has been supplied to the left side of the Nistru for producing electricity. As a result, the two plants resumed work at the start of December.
