Ecologists say Ukraine’s intention to build 6 hydropower plans on the Nistru will gradually lead to the drying up of the river. According to energy experts, the temperature of water changes when this goes through turbines and this seriously affects the ecosystem of the river. Ecological experts consider the problem should be solved by dialogue with Ukraine, but only with the mediation of the EU, IPN reports.

Under the energy development strategy of Ukraine, the neighboring country will build six more hydropower plants on the Nistru until 2035. Moldovan ecological experts anticipate the implementation of this strategy will generate a real ecological disaster in Moldova as the level of water in the river will decline gradually.

“8 million people benefit directly or indirectly from this source of water. If six barrages are built, no water will get to us. In Hotin, where the Novodnestrovsc Lake ends, there is no water already and there is only mud,” ecologist Alecu Reniță stated in the talk show “Good Evening” on the public TV channel.

Energy experts said the construction of the six hydropower plans will help Ukraine to substantially increase its revenues from the sale of electricity, but these plans will lead to the destruction of the ecosystems of the Nistru.

‘The major risk is that Ukraine’s energy strategy envisions the setting up of a number of pumping stations. The water has another temperature after falling through turbines and this leads to the destruction of the ecosystem,” stated energy expert Victor Parlicov.

Recently, Moldova’s Parliament constituted a commission of inquiry that is to assess the impact of the hydropower complex on the Nistru.

“Parliament adopted a statement on the Nistru River and this is a diplomatic message also to the partners in Ukraine to initiate a dialogue. The dialogue between Presidents started and should be also initiated at parliamentary and governmental levels. Only this way we will succeed. In the statement, we underline the necessity of the EU being involved in the negotiation process,” said MP Iurie Reniță.

The decision to erect six hydropower plans on the Nistru was discussed in the first meeting of President Maia Sandu with her Ukrainian counterpart Volodimir Zelensky. The two agreed to involve European ecological experts in the mediation of this problem