Moldavia says economy hit when buying electricity from Europe

Moldova has a difficult situation in the energy sector, and the purchase of electricity from Europe will hit the country's economy. Energy expert Sergei Ungureanu told Izvestia on December 31.

"[In Moldova] the situation (in the energy sector. - Ed.) is quite complicated because it is still unknown what the future supply of electricity and gas will be, because on both issues we have quite big problems now," the expert said.

He noted that Moldova has not agreed on the continuation of gas transit through Ukraine, due to which Transnistria will not receive it and will not be able to produce a sufficient amount of cheap electricity.

"Thus, Moldova will buy this electricity from the European market, that is, from the Romanian market, and there it is much more expensive," he added.

At the same time, Ungureanu pointed out that energy purchases from European countries will hit Moldova's economy, as well as its residents.

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Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Moldovan parliament is introducing austerity measures, reducing lighting and heating in the building, due to the expected electricity shortage associated with the cessation of Russian gas supplies. In addition, MPs were urged to keep the temperature below 19 degrees Celsius and not to use elevators. A number of elevators and air conditioners were also turned off.

The day before, Victor Bynzar, advisor to the director of the Moldovan state enterprise Energocom, said that the Transnistria TPP will stop supplying electricity to Moldova from January 1, 2025.

On December 28, the press service of Gazprom reported that from January 1, it would stop supplying electricity to Moldova due to non-payment of debts by the country. In turn, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean did not recognize the debt and threatened to sue.

Before that, on December 23, it was reported that protests may start in Moldova because of the difficult energy situation in the republic due to the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine.

Since December 1, 2024, the price of gas in Moldova has increased by 27.5%. Since December 16, a state of emergency regime has been in effect in Moldova due to the possible termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. On 6 December, a state of emergency was also introduced in Transnistria due to the situation in the energy sector.