● MONDAY, August 26

Disturbances in power system of joint Ukraine-Moldova block

Moldelectrica announces disruptions in the power system of the joint Ukraine-Moldova block as a result of attacks on critical Ukrainian infrastructure.

“Currently the situation is under control. We have enough local generation to smooth out minor disturbances”, said Moldelectrica, promising to be back with details.

Moldova to export tomatoes to Israel

Moldovan tomato growers will be able to export fresh produce to Israel. The National Agency for Food Safety announced the decision by the Israeli Plant Protection and Inspection Service.

● WEDNESDAY, August 28

No talks to sell state-owned port in Giurgiulești, says Government’s spokesperson

There are two distinct inland ports on the Danube in the Moldovan locality of Giurgiulești: the Giurgiulești International Freeport owned by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and another facility which is owned by the state, clarified the Government’s spokesperson Daniel Vodă.

Alexandru Iacub appointed as head of Customs Service

Alexandru Iacub was appointed by the Government as head of the Customs Service, after approving his resignation as state secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

Moldova to negotiate €200M loan for reforestation

Over 63,000 hectares of forests will be planted in Moldova, with a seed research and production center, three industrial nurseries, and other infrastructure to be built as well. To accomplish this, the government intends to take out a 200 million euros loan from the European Investment Bank, as another 15.5 million euros will come as a grant.

Organic trade to be facilitated

The Government approved a regulation that it says will make it easier to import and export organic products. The document regulates the verification of official shipments of organic products and the issuance of inspection certificates, as well as establishes the cases in which organic products are exempted from official border checks.

Romanian government starts talks to buy EBRD’s stake in Giurgiulesti Free Port

The Government of Romania has formally started negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to buy Danube Logistics shares held by the EBRD in the Giurgiulești Free International Port in Moldova.

Damages asked after developers tear down Chisinau landmark to build high-rise instead

The Ministry of Culture is suing two developers for 21.33 million lei after they demolished a 19th-century mansion in central Chisinau to build an 18-story apartment tower in its stead.

● THURSDAY, August 29

Moldova and Italy are Romania’s leading wine importers

Most of Romania’s wine imports come from Moldova and Italy, with similar shares, followed by France, Spain and Germany. Moldova provides more bottled wine, while Italy  more bulk wine, Economedia.ro found in an analysis.

Drought-stricken farmers to be relieved from late payment penalties

The Agency for the Development and Modernization of Agriculture will waive penalties for farmers that missed their payments in 2024 due to natural calamities such as droughts. The condition is to present a certificate ascertaining the situation issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is one of the measures presented by Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, at a meeting of the Agency’s Supervisory Committee.

88% of energy to be bought in September will be from Kuchurgan

In September, the state company Energocom will buy 352,000 MWh of energy to be consumed on the western side of the Nistru River. 88% of the total will be bought from the Kuchurgan Power Plant in the Transnistrian region, the company posted on Facebook.

Slusari accuses Ministry of misleading public about relief measures for farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture today announced a set of measures to help out farmers affected by the drought. But Alexandr Slusari, ex-lawmaker and former president of the Farmers Force Association, says the Ministry is misleading the public about the scope of the measures.

State budget deficit was 7.1 billion lei as of July’s end

In the first seven months of this year, total revenues to the state budget amounted to 37.7 billion lei, as expenditure stood at 44.8 billion lei, with a resulting deficit of 7.1 billion lei, the Ministry of Finance reported.

Moldova’s biggest sugar producer says 60% of sugar beet crop destroyed by drought

More than 60% of the sugar beet crop is destroyed by the drought, the country’s largest sugar producer, Südzucker Moldova, discovered as it kicked off its harvesting effort.

● FRIDAY, August 30

Who else wants to buy the Giurgiulesti port and how valuable is it?

Romania intends to buy the Giurgiulesti Free International Port to aid Ukraine’s recovery effort after the war ends. The Romanian government said back in 2023 that it sees itself as an “important hub” in this process and that it will make logistical preparations to this end. However, there are competitors that are also interested in investing in the port located in the south of Moldova.

Fuel prices hit new lows this year

After yet another week of constant decreases in fuel prices, today diesel saw another low this year, of 19.83 lei/liter. According to the National Energy Regulatory Agency, the current diesel price can be compared with those of June 2023 and January 2022.

Grape harvest to be 20-35% lower

The wine sector faces significant challenges at the end of the 2023-2024 wine year, dominated by drought, which considerably affects the quantity and quality of grape production. The total grape output this year will be 20-35% lower than that of last year, and due to unusually high temperatures the harvesting campaign started 20-30 days earlier, beginning of the first days of August. These are some of the findings presented today during the 8th edition of the National Conference of the Wine Industry.