Even if the Ukrainian authorities are certain about the construction of six hydropower plants on the Nistru River, not everything is as simple as the academia and civil society in Moldova and also in Ukraine oppose this idea. Currently, the discussions between the authorities slowed down, but will definitely become more intense after the elections, including those of Moldova, stated the executive director of the Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers Ilia Trombitski.
In a news conference at IPN, Ilia Trombitski noted Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed Ukraine’s initiative concerning the building of the six hydropower plans during his visit to Kiev of February 2017. But then the Ukrainian side said it does not intend to give up. It won’t be as easy as there is rather serious resistance on the part of the Ukrainian rulers and civil society, especially westwards. Also, a number of scientific institutions are against because many natural values that are protected in Ukraine will be destroyed.
According to the Association’s leader, the problem is now not evident enough for most of the people from the two countries. But there is hope that the population will increasingly oppose this idea and this will be ultimately abandoned. It depends on a lot of factors, primarily on the political situation and public opinion. Elections are coming and it’s clear that nothing will be done in this regard until them. After the elections, there will be greater activism on the part of the authorities and the population, as usual.
Ilia Trombitski noted the diminution of the quantity of water in the Nistru is the danger faced by the Moldovan side if the six hydropower plants are erected. The agreement signed by Moldova and Ukraine in 2012 clearly provides that both of the countries are responsible for the whole basin. This means the Moldovan side is interested not only in its part of the river, but also in that of Ukraine and vice versa. A similar assessment is reflected in the European legislation.
In the same news conference, there were presented the measures taken as part of a project implemented with the assistance of the German Environment Agency. Ilia Trombitski said the project was initiated together with German colleagues so that the EU’s experience is shared in Moldova. It involved the engagement of local public authorities in solving problems that are often neglected. Currently, the given problems are addressed by sub-basin councils and an example is the council of the sub-basin of Baltata, a branch of the Nistru. Such bodies that include representatives of the local public authorities and NGOs approach the problem of management of small rivers in the Republic of Moldova that remains serious amid climate change that causes rivers to dry up. There are also natural actions that are rather negative and do not allow properly conserving nature.
The project “Development of Water Management Capacities in the Republic of Moldova at Local Level” is implemented by the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues of Berlin in partnership with the Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers.
In the framework of the same project, there was printed a methodological guide on the management of basins of small and medium-sized rivers. The publication describes the international and national experience and the best practices in managing small basins – the hydrographic basin and associated surface and underground waters.
