Sandu: Lower Energy Consumption Needed to Avoid Higher Tariffs

President Maia Sandu has warned that Moldova could face a water and electricity crisis if the drought and extreme heat persist. She said the authorities are working to mitigate the impact, but there are no “magic solutions”, and urged people to use water and electricity sparingly, stiri.md reports. Speaking on the Jurnal Politic programme, Sandu stated that the drought affecting a significant part of Europe has already caused problems with both water resources and energy, and Moldova is no exception. “If it does not rain soon and power plants in the region are unable to resume operations, the situation will become even more difficult. The same applies to water levels,” she said. The President called on citizens to reduce electricity consumption during the evening peak hours, when electricity is purchased at the highest prices. “We should try to use less electricity during these hours and, whenever possible, shift consumption to cheaper periods. Otherwise, we will all face higher tariffs,” she said. She made a similar appeal regarding water use, saying that under the current circumstances it should be used as responsibly as possible. “It is one thing to water vegetables, but quite another to water a lawn, which can wait. Much as we all want to have beautiful gardens and a beautiful country, the situation is difficult not only in Moldova,” Sandu said. She warned that if Chișinău were to run out of water even for a few days, the consequences would be extremely serious. “If Chișinău were left without water for several days, it would be a real disaster. I hope it doesn’t come to that,” the President said. Speaking about energy security, Sandu said that the share of renewable energy in Moldova has exceeded 25% since 2021, but the development of energy storage systems is lagging behind. “Parliament has passed a law that will allow the private sector to invest more quickly in energy storage,” she said. According to her, expanding energy storage capacity will help reduce the risk of shortages and lower electricity prices. “In the coming months and years, we must build up energy storage capacity. This will make electricity cheaper and reduce the risk of power outages,” Sandu said. She also said instability in the energy markets would persist as long as wars and conflicts continue in energy-producing regions. “As long as wars and conflicts continue on the continent affecting regions that supply energy resources uncertainty and price fluctuations will persist,” the President concluded.