Development Partners to Resume Funding of Projects on Disposal of Dangerous Chemicals on the Territory of Republic of Moldova

This is the result of the Coordination meeting of international donors held today in Comrat and attended by Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici.

The event was preceded by a working visit of the participants to the central depot of pesticides from Budjac village, Comrat district. Here, the responsible persons from the Ministry of Defense and other qualified institutions informed the authorities about the storage conditions of pesticide waste. The participants also discussed about the impact of the waste on the environment, public health, food safety, and other issues regarding this sector in Comrat district, as well as other territories of Republic of Moldova.

Thus, during the Coordination meeting of international donors, the Prime Minister mentioned that the project of dangerous pesticides and chemicals disposal, developed with international community’s help, is very important for the environment and people’s safety not only in our country, but in the entire South-Eastern region of Europe.

“I express my gratitude to the partners who contribute to our efforts meant to ensure the disposal of dangerous pesticides and chemicals on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. I believe it is necessary to continue these actions until the complete evacuation and disposal of dangerous chemicals in our country”, stated Prime Minister Gaburici.

Chiril Gaburici referred to the NATO supported project on evacuation and disposal, under maximum security conditions, of pesticide waste stored during the Soviet period in depots from Republic of Moldova. The project was stopped in October, 2014 due to lack of funding.

The Prime Minister specified that, since 2008, the Government of Republic of Moldova has been allocating about 220 thousand MDL from the annual state budget for ensuring the security of depots storing pesticides and chemicals. Nevertheless, our country needs the international community support in order to cover all the costs related to this project.

Thus, the Premier appealed to the community of donors and development partners for their support so that Republic of Moldova could achieve the set goals. “I am sure that this project will improve the living standards of Moldovan citizens and will offer new possibilities for the consolidation of region’s peace, security, and stability”, said the Prime Minister.

The Ambassadors of partner-states of Republic of Moldova appreciated our Government’s efforts in implementing this project, mentioning that it concerns the ecology and safety of other neighboring countries as well. The officials expressed the availability to support our country in this project.

“We are here to help you and to build the future together”, said the Ambassador of Romania to Republic of Moldova, Marius Lazurca.

Ambassador of Poland to Chisinau, Artur Michalski, announced that his country will offer 40 thousand Euros to Republic of Moldova.

The project on the disposal of pesticides and chemicals on the territory of Republic of Moldova is at its third stage of implementation. Within the first stage, during 2003-2008, about 3,245 tons of dangerous pesticides and chemicals were repacked and stored in 37 regional depots from 424 different locations. At the second stage, within 2006-2010, the Ministry of Defense in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, and the State University of Moldova, compiled a database on the pesticides and their toxicological evaluation. The third (last) stage includes the evacuation and disposal, under security conditions, of about 1,270 tons of pesticide waste. Out of these, 643 tons from the depots of 10 Moldovan districts have been already repacked, transported, and destroyed in Poland. Other about 630 tons of pesticide waste from 7 Moldovan districts are to be evacuated and destroyed. The project budget is estimated at 2.2 million euro.

Source: Communication and public relations office of the Government of Republic of Moldova