The Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Mircea Fechet, and the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, have filed a criminal complaint with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) against individuals who intentionally disseminated false information, through online media channels and social networks, regarding the alleged demolition of dams in Romania, according to a press release of the Ministry of Environment.
According to the cited source, this action aims to protect the national interest, counter disinformation campaigns and sanction those who, through such actions, affect national security.
“The criminal complaint comes as a result of false news, published starting on January 6, 2025, which claimed that the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests had issued an order providing for the demolition of dams, including those with a hydropower role, as a result of alleged European directives and regulations. In addition, this information was amplified on social networks by various users, which generated panic and confusion among public opinion. In reality, the draft Order NTLH-033 regulates exclusively the management of dams that are no longer in use, without affecting hydropower dams or other strategic infrastructures,” the press release states.
The relevant ministry specifies that the draft Order submitted to public debate in December 2024 aims to ensure efficient and safe management of dams that are no longer in use, through conservation, post-use or, in exceptional cases, abandonment procedures, without providing for the demolition of functional constructions. This project complies with national legislation and has no connection to the European regulations erroneously invoked in press articles, according to Agerpres.
“Dams are essential infrastructure for national security and for the protection of the population against risks such as floods. As Minister of the Environment, I firmly reject any attempt to manipulate public opinion by disseminating fake news. These disinformation campaigns are not only an insult to the authorities, but also a direct threat to the stability of our country. Fans of populist leaders will not succeed in intoxicating the Romanian people with lies. We will respond promptly, by legal means, every time, to protect the public interest and the integrity of state institutions,” said the Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, in the cited statement.
For his part, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, showed that hydropower is one of the pillars of Romania’s energy security, and dams play a vital role in maintaining the stability of the energy system and in protecting against floods. ‘Every false rumor, disseminated by irresponsible individuals, does nothing but weaken the population’s trust in the authorities and fuel social tensions. These fake news propagators must understand that we will not tolerate such attacks on Romania. National security and energy for citizens will always be firmly defended. Just as we collaborated excellently with Minister Fechet to unblock and accelerate investments in hydroelectric power plants started before 1989, we are also teaming up to combat fake news and sanction those who propagate it, at the behest of those who do not want Romania to have safe, accessible and clean energy, produced here, in our country,’ the Minister of Energy stated.
The two officials reaffirmed that no hydroelectric dam in Romania will be demolished.