Moldovan PM visits Costesti-Stanca Hydropower Node

Chisinau, 24 June /MOLDPRES/- Today, Prime Minister Ion Chicu went to Costesti-Stanca Hydropower Node to consider the flood hazards caused by the recent heavy rainfall in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. The leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, the Waters of Moldova Agency and the State Hydrometeorological Service informed about the evolution of the water level in the Prut River, current situation, forecasts for the next period and flood dangers, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

IGSU head informed that the situation had been examined and localities that could be flooded and preventive measures had been identified. Local Public Authorities were trained and action plans were worked out, necessary materials and intervention teams were prepared.

The premier asked to be assessed the previous experience and considered the consequences of floods in 2008 and 2012, which can help planning and implementing effective preventive measures.

The leaders of the Local Public Authorities informed about the preparatory actions undertaken. The Moldovan authorities are constantly communicating with colleagues from Romania and Ukraine, exchanging information that allows maintaining a high level of preparedness to manage the risk of flooding in a most efficient manner.

Chicu noted that the government has resources in the reserve fund and is ready to intervene if necessary. He asked all public authorities responsible to manage the situation in which the water level will rise and exit the Prut river bed. "We need to have the list of houses that are in the risk area, to inform the inhabitants and prepare their safe evacuation. Please make sure we have everything ready and we will act preventively ", he said.

Note: The Costești-Stînca Hydropower Plant was built in 1973- 1978. The accumulation lake stretches over a length of 70 km with an accumulation capacity of 1 billion 285 million cubic meters of water, a maximum depth of 43 meters. The dam is 710 meters wide. The installed capacity of the hydropower plant is 32 MW, of which 16 MW is the power of the generator located in Moldova.

27 employees work at the Costești Hydropower Plant. The Hydropower Node provides 5-6% of the energy produced annually by local producers and about 1-1.5% of the energy consumed by the right bank of the Dniester River. In 2019, the revenues of the Costești-Stânca Hydropower Node exceeded 51 million lei.