Moldova has declared a state of emergency in its energy and hydrological sectors for 60 days, following a parliamentary vote aimed at strengthening the government’s ability to respond rapidly to growing risks surrounding energy supplies, water resources and rising costs.
Parliament approved the government’s initiative on Tuesday by a vote of 54 in favour and 20 against. The proposal was presented by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, who said the extraordinary measures were necessary to ensure continuity in access to essential energy and water resources as the country enters the colder months.
According to Moldova’s state news agency, Moldpres, Tofan warned that the beginning of the cold season has created a combination of risks affecting the supply of gas, fuel and electricity, as well as water resources. He also pointed to elevated energy prices as an additional concern.
The prime minister said the risks facing the country had become more interconnected and required the government to have stronger instruments available before a serious disruption occurs.
“The start of the cold season brings more overlapping risks concerning the supply of gas, fuel, electricity and water resources, as well as the high prices of energy resources,” Tofan said, according to Moldpres.
The new state of emergency comes as an existing state of alert in the energy and hydrological sectors approaches its expiration. The alert was initially introduced in late July for 30 days and subsequently extended for another month. It is due to expire on Friday.
Tofan told lawmakers that the conditions that prompted the government to introduce the earlier alert had not disappeared. Instead, he said, they had intensified, making it necessary to introduce a broader emergency framework.
He argued that the government should prepare for possible disruptions rather than wait until a crisis has already developed before taking action.
“The role of the government is not to wait for a crisis to occur and then explain why it did not act,” Tofan said.
“We must have the instruments in place before these crises materialize,” he added.
According to the prime minister, the government decided to seek a state of emergency because Moldova is entering a period in which the risks are “greater and more interconnected” than those that could be addressed through the existing state-of-alert mechanisms.
The decision gives the government a stronger legal framework to respond to developments affecting energy and water security during the 60-day period. Tofan presented the measure as a precautionary step designed to ensure that authorities can react quickly if supply problems or other disruptions emerge.
He also stressed that seeking emergency powers did not necessarily mean that all of the measures available under the new framework would have to be used.
“I would rather come to parliament today to transparently explain the risks and be prepared than reach January in a situation where we need these instruments, but do not have them available,” he said.
Tofan expressed hope that the emergency mechanisms would ultimately see limited or no use if the risks facing the country could be managed without major disruptions.
“I hope that, in 60 days, we will be able to say that many, ideally all, of these instruments did not even have to be used. That would be the best outcome,” he added.
The parliamentary approval comes as Moldova prepares for the winter period, when demand for heating and electricity traditionally increases and pressure on energy infrastructure and supplies can intensify.
The government’s decision therefore links energy security with hydrological conditions, reflecting concerns over the availability and continuity of essential resources. The inclusion of water resources in the emergency framework indicates that authorities are treating energy and hydrological risks as interconnected challenges requiring coordinated government action.
The 60-day period will provide the authorities with an emergency framework covering the period ahead as Moldova moves deeper into the cold season. During that time, the government will have the opportunity to monitor developments in energy supplies, fuel and electricity availability, water resources and energy prices while responding to any emerging threats.
Tofan's presentation to parliament also emphasized transparency, with the prime minister saying the government preferred to explain the risks publicly and seek the necessary legal instruments in advance rather than wait for a crisis to expose gaps in its response capabilities.
The parliamentary decision marks a significant escalation from the previous state of alert, with the government arguing that the changing risk environment requires additional powers and preparedness.
