Moldova declares a state of emergency in the energy sector, due to a possible interruption of Russian gas. This small state nestled between Ukraine and Romania receives Russian gas through a pipeline that passes through Ukraine, but Moldovan authorities are preparing for deliveries to end by the end of the year.
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The Moldovan Parliament approved on Friday December 13 the establishment of a state of emergency for a period of 60 days, in anticipation of the expected interruption of Russian gas deliveries in the breakaway region of Transnistria. “ From December 16, a state of emergency will be implemented throughout the Republic of Moldova », announced the Parliament in a press release following the adoption of the measure by 56 of the 101 deputies.
The Moldovan government may decide to cut power intermittently and thus ration electricity, as is already doneUkraine. This is a radical measure by Chisinau to preserve the daily lives of the 2.6 million Moldovans as much as possible.
Moldova, dependent on Russian gas
“ We must ensure that this winter is the last one where we are under threat from the Kremlin », Launches the Prime Minister before the vote of the deputies. “ The plan to destabilize Moldova will not work », assures Dorin Recean.
There Moldova is still too dependent on Russian gas.
The Cuciurgan thermal power station, located in Transnistria, is vital: 70% of the electricity is produced there from Russian gas which transits through Ukraine, but not for much longer. The contract between kyiv and Moscow ends on December 31 and, according to Chisinau, Russia could, if it wanted, deliver gas by other means. “ Russia is holding the inhabitants of Transnistria hostage and using them to destabilize Moldova », Estimated Dorin Recean.
But Moldova is one of the collateral victims of the war in Ukraineforced to grit their teeth while waiting to find new sources of supply.
Energy Minister Victor Parlicov, accused of failing to manage the crisis, was dismissed last week. The Kremlin, for its part, demands payment of a debt of around 700 million dollars (667 million euros), not recognized by Chisinau. This dispute over the debt owed by the Russian-Moldovan company Moldovagaz dates from before the start of the war in Ukraine and stems from a brutal increase in prices decided by Moscow in 2021.
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