The Russian company Gazprom is creating an energy crisis in Transnistria, despite the fact that Moldova has a contract for gas supplies, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on January 9.
Points of attention
- Gazprom is accused of intentionally creating an energy crisis in Transnistria by violating the gas supply contract, causing severe issues like lack of central heating in cities and widespread power outages.
- Moldovan President Maia Sandu is negotiating with Ukraine to supply coal to Transnistria in order to address the urgent energy crisis in the region.
- The Moldovan DRES is currently operating on reserve fuel - coal, which will last only 24 days, highlighting the critical need for immediate solutions to ensure electricity production in Transnistria.
- Gazprom's decision to stop gas supplies to Moldova has escalated the energy emergency, leading to serious consequences such as the shutdown of essential facilities like the Metallurgical Plant and bread factories in the region.
- Collaboration between Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia is deemed essential to tackle the energy crisis in Transnistria and ensure the well-being of its residents through stable energy supply.
Sandu accused Gazprom of energy crisis in Transnistria
We understand that people (in Transnistria — ed.) are going through difficult times. We are ready to help. I want them to know that this crisis is being created by Gazprom, because Moldova has a contract for gas supplies. According to this contract, Gazprom must supply gas.
Sandu reminded that there is an alternative pipeline, the Turkish Stream. That is, it is not a problem that gas cannot pass through Ukraine.
Gazprom decided that it no longer wants to supply gas, and that's why people are having these problems now. We are ready to help with generators and medicines. People can cross to the right bank if they need to go to the hospital or solve other problems.
Maya Sandu
President of Moldova
Sandu added that she had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, during which she said that Ukraine could supply coal to Transnistria.
The Moldovan DRES (MDRES) is currently operating on reserve fuel — coal, which will last only 24 days, so the region is in dire need of fuel.
We talked about the fact that Ukraine can supply coal so that MDRES can produce electricity on both the left and right banks of the Dniester. And for Ukraine. That is, there is a solution. It is necessary that Tiraspol and Moscow agree to solve the people's issues.
According to her, the government is negotiating with the "Transnistrian authorities."
Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Transnistria
Gazprom announced on December 28 that it would stop supplying gas to Moldova due to alleged debts from Moldovagaz.
Moldova introduced an energy emergency on December 16. On December 31, the Ministry of Energy announced that in January 2025, Moldova will import most of its electricity from neighboring Romania, and 30% will be provided by local CHP plants.
The "authorities" of Transnistria have also introduced a state of emergency. After the gas supply was cut off on January 1, central heating in the cities was turned off, and gas was left only for cooking. According to the Transnistrian authorities, gas reserves should last for 20 days. The Moldovan DRES switched to coal-fired electricity generation on January 1.
Since January 3, the Transnistrian region has been experiencing widespread power outages. On January 4, the Moldovan Metallurgical Plant in the region was shut down, and in Rybnitsa, a bread factory that produced about 2 tons of bread per day was suspended.
