Moldova may declare a state of emergency due to possible gas cut-off from Russia
Kyiv • UNN
The Moldovan government will appeal to the parliament to introduce a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector. The decision is related to the risk of stopping Russian gas supplies from January 1, 2025.
The Moldovan authorities call for a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector in the context of the risk of gas transit being cut off. The decision should be submitted to the parliament for approval.
Transmits UNN with reference to radio moldova and AGORA.
Details
On Thursday, December 12, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean will address the parliament with a request to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector for 60 days. The decision is related to the report of the Emergency Situations Commission on the risks of stopping gas transit to the Transnistrian region by the Russian concern Gazprom from January 1, 2025. It is stated that the risks that Moldova may face this year “may be greater than the energy crisis that the country experienced in the fall of 2022.
“The termination of natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, supplied by Gazprom in accordance with the current contract for the supply of natural gas between Moldovagaz and Gazprom, will create a humanitarian crisis in the Transnistrian region, as well as certain risks for the functioning and stability of the energy sector in the Republic of Moldova...” the government's decision reads.
Vice Prime Minister Oleh Serebryan also noted the following:
Even if the existing gas transportation infrastructure allows for the transportation of the natural gas required to cover the consumption of the Republic of Moldova on both banks of the Dniester, there are risks regarding the financial ability of consumers on the left bank to purchase natural gas and electricity from the market produced by the Kuchurgan power plant.
HelpHelp
According to the available data, the Kuchurgan power plant has coal reserves that can cover the electricity consumption of the Transnistrian region only for a period of 30 to 50 days. These reserves are estimated at 69.3 thousand tons. But the quality of the coal stored at the plant is unknown.
In the absence of the Kuchurgan power plant, Moldova's electricity supply is directly dependent on imports from Romania, but Moldova's neighboring country is also facing electricity shortages.
The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing Russian bombardment of Ukraine's electricity and transportation facilities, especially near the border with the Republic of Moldova, AGORA writes.
AddendumAddendum
Yesterday, the so-called Supreme Council of the Transnistrian region adopted a decree by Tiraspol separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselsky to introduce a 30-day state of emergency in the economy.
The decree refers to a number of measures that need to be taken to “ensure the energy security of the region.” The text states, among other things, that decisions should be made to rationalize energy consumption, create reserves, and ban energy exports.
Tiraspol will stop exporting electricity, including to the right bank of the Dniester, if the region runs out of gas, ProTV Chișinău reports .
