The end of the world: Moldova and Transnistria prepare for the biggest energy crisis
Moldova and Transnistria have introduced a state of emergency due to the energy crisis. The fact is that as of January 1, the contract for the pumping of Russian gas through Ukraine will cease to be in force, leaving Chisinau and Tiraspol without their traditional source of blue fuel. "Izvestia" looked into the situation.
Tariffs are growing in Moldova
In Moldova, the current energy crisis came suddenly. Back in September, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that no emergency measures would be needed. "The government cannot predict what will happen on the international market, but I want to assure everyone that Moldovans will not face an increase in gas and electricity tariffs this heating season," the head of government promised.
In October, however, the presidential elections and the European referendum took place, after which politicians and officials stopped reassuring the population and the matter took a completely different turn. Thus, at the end of November, Chisinau sharply increased the very tariffs, the price of gas for household consumers increased by 27% at once. Now a cubic meter of blue fuel costs 16 lei, which is almost 100 rubles, for comparison: in Moscow the same volume costs 7-9 rubles.
Further in Chisinau they remembered that actually on January 1 the contract for pumping Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine will cease to operate, which means that the Transnistrian region will be left without a traditional source of blue fuel. Interestingly, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria, which also depend on these supplies, have been looking for alternative routes since the beginning of this year and discussing with Kiev the possibility of maintaining transit.
Until recently, the Moldovan government did not participate in these discussions, on the contrary, it emphasized its independence and even hostile attitude towards Russia in every way. At the end of November, however, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov flew to St. Petersburg, where he had a substantive conversation with Gazprom's management. During the talks, the Moldovan official was told that the Russian concern could supply blue fuel not through Ukraine, but through the Turkish Stream and further through the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline.
The stumbling block, however, is Chisinau's debt of $709 million for previous years' supplies. The Moldovan side does not recognize this amount, agreeing to pay only $8.6 million, which is allegedly the amount calculated by some international audit. "We have not yet received an alternative from Gazprom. We asked them to formulate their position and present it to us, and we will consider it," Parlikov reasoned after the negotiations.
The situation, however, developed rapidly, almost immediately after the trip to Russia, the Minister of Energy was sent to resign, and the parliament imposed a state of emergency in the republic from December 16. The Moldovan government issued a lengthy circular with recommendations for consumers; the document says, in particular, that citizens should turn on lights in apartments less often, fully load washing machines and dishwashers, and unplug all devices from outlets when they are not in use.
Transnistria is preparing for record blackouts
At the same time, neighboring Transnistria is on the verge of a deep crisis. By his decree, the head of TMR Vadim Krasnoselsky imposed a state of emergency in the unrecognized republic for a month. The parliament has appealed to Russia for help, and the relevant letters have been sent to the State Duma, the Federation Council and the administration of the Russian president. "We ask all the same about transit through Ukraine, to conclude a contract to get the necessary volume of gas. We are waiting, it does not depend on the Transnistrian side here," said Alexander Korshunov, chairman of the Supreme Soviet.
Moldova. Transnistria. Monument to Lenin in the city of Tiraspol
The key problem is that the largest in the region Moldavskaya GRES, located in Transnistria, runs on Russian gas, produces electricity from blue fuel, and its capacity meets about 80% of the needs of both banks of the Dniester. Tiraspol plans that if and when gas supplies stop, the TPP will switch to coal, but this will be only a partial solution to the problem.
Thus, the Minister of Economic Development of TMR, Serghei Obolonik, said that coal reserves will be enough for 50 days only. At the same time, the output at the Moldavskaya GRES will noticeably decrease, blackouts will last up to 10 hours a day, trolleybuses will run only during peak hours, hot water will be supplied for three hours in the evenings. Large industrial enterprises will stop, electricity exports to Moldova will cease. According to Obolonik, this is still a good option. Both coal-fired units at the TPP are badly worn out, and the possibility of accidents cannot be ruled out.
Interestingly, against this background, Moldova reported that after the introduction of the emergency regime they were able to fill their gas storages - they bought 748 million cubic meters of blue fuel on the Romanian exchange. This should be enough to pass the heating season relatively quietly. The situation with electricity is more complicated; there is nothing to replace the supplies from the Moldavian TPP. Traditionally, Chisinau has turned to Ukraine for help in difficult situations, but after Russian missile strikes, the latter is suffering from shortages itself.
At the same time, Chisinau states that it will not stay aside from the situation in Transnistria. Thus, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebryan said that the DMR residents will receive assistance, including an offer to evacuate vulnerable categories of citizens - patients in intensive care, the disabled and children in shelters - to the other side of the Dniester. But the Transnistrian authorities will be given certain conditions. The head of TMR Vadim Krasnoselsky says that Chisinau wants to use the energy collapse to put pressure on the republic.
What experts say
Moldovan political scientist Alexander Korinenko believes that the Moldovan authorities were too late to solve the problem.
- The way out should have been sought back in the summer, it was already clear then that Russian gas would stop flowing through the territory of Ukraine. But our authorities at that moment were preoccupied with the presidential elections, they did not want to raise uncomfortable issues, and now they are trying to solve something in an emergency mode. I hope that Maia Sandu's team will still reach some agreements with Gazprom, so that consumers on both banks of the Dniester do not suffer. If not, they will have to buy Romanian electricity, which is about three times more expensive than that produced by the Moldavian TPP with the help of Russian gas," he emphasizes.
Moldovan incumbent president Maia Sandu
Former Transnistrian Foreign Minister Igor Shornikov says that the Moldovan leadership created the current energy crisis quite deliberately. According to him, the representative of Chisinau only formally held negotiations with Gazprom.
- In this way Moldova solves two important tasks. Firstly, it raises tariffs in the background, which allows officials to earn more money. Secondly, it further complicates the situation of Transnistria. Apparently, the calculation is made on the fact that the population without heat and light will start to actively leave the republic, depressive tendencies will aggravate in the economy and industry, which will make it easier for the Moldovan leadership to finally resolve the Transnistrian issue. At the same time, I do not exclude that Chisinau will establish some supplies of energy resources to the DMR for self-piracy in order to stimulate favorable moods in the republic," he says.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
