Moldova extends state of high alert in energy sector for 30 days

CHISINAU. Aug 26 (Interfax) - Moldova's government at a meeting on Wednesday extended the state of high alert in the energy and hydrology sectors for 30 days owing to the risk of fuel supply disruptions.

"We have managed to stabilize the situation [...] The country has enough diesel fuel for eight days, and only 30 gas stations that are not importers, but only sell fuel, are out of fuel. We need to extend the state of high alert, so that we could continue to reach prompt decisions," Sergiu Diaconu, Director of the National Crisis Management Center, said at the meeting.

Diaconu said that the country remains in a challenging hydrological situation.

"The drought has led to water levels in the Dniester Reservoir being nine meters below normal, and in the Costesti-Stanca Reservoir is seven meters below normal. Water levels in other reservoirs have also dropped, and rivers have become shallower. We must keep the situation under control and take prompt measures to prevent emergencies that would require restricting water supplies or scheduling water supplies to citizens," he said.

The Moldovan government declared a state of heightened readiness in the energy and hydrological sectors for 30 days at the end of July.