Faced with difficulties: a new round of energy crisis in Transnistria
Since the beginning of October, a new round of energy crisis has been taking place in Transnistria. Hot water and heating have been turned off in the republic due to gas shortages, gas stations are being closed, and large industrial enterprises have gone idle. According to the official version, the problems arose because of European banks. Experts believe that Moldova's influence was not without its share in this case. Izvestia investigated the situation.
Just add water.
In Transnistria, a gas economy regime was introduced in early October. The Minister of Economic Development of the Republic, Sergei Obolonik, said that the difficult period would last until mid-October. "The Russian Federation is providing financial assistance to purchase gas in the amount that will allow us to enter the winter in a normal consumption mode," the official said.
It is known that ordinary consumers have faced great difficulties. Thus, in large cities of the unrecognized republic, including Bendery, Rybnitsa and Tiraspol, hot water and heating were turned off, and electricity supply was also threatened. It is noted that the provision of public services will be restored after a special order from the government.
In addition, gas stations were closed. According to the reports of the only local operator, fuel is produced and transferred only for emergency vehicles and military vehicles. Finally, local bloggers report that large industrial enterprises have gone idle, although there have been no official reports about this yet.
Via Dubai and Budapest
Pridnestrovie received Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine until the end of last year. This scheme was very important and beneficial for the republic. Firstly, fuel from Russia made it possible to cover its own needs, because gasification in the PMR reached 95-97%. Secondly, the republic earned money by selling electricity, which was produced at a local GRES in Moldova.
Moldavskaya GRES building
In January, the contract for pumping Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine expired, and the municipal system collapsed in Transnistria. Then the republic was left not only without natural fuel, but also without heating and hot water, electricity and light appeared in apartments sporadically, the duration of blackouts reached five to eight hours a day.
All this not only caused inconvenience, but also provoked many tragedies, because the number of short circuits and fires increased. In addition, large industrial enterprises were shut down, with the only exception being food manufacturers. Schoolchildren were sent on additional holidays, kindergartens worked only for the children of those parents who continued to work.
The authorities of the republic then frantically searched for ways out of the crisis. As a result, as a result of difficult negotiations, it was possible to agree on a scheme under which Russia transfers money for Pridnestrovie to the accounts of companies from the UAE, who pay to the Hungarian MET operator, who organizes supplies, and fuel is supplied to end consumers through the mediation of Moldovagaz.
After that, the situation generally improved, and the benefits of civilization returned to the houses. Serious problems persisted. Firstly, the authorities of the PMR complained that all agreements were of a short-term nature, and each time the technical design turned out to be a difficult task. Secondly, the Transnistrian industry remained on starvation rations, because supplies were agreed only to cover household needs.
Against this background, the economic situation continued to deteriorate. Thus, according to the results of the first half of this year, the republic's foreign trade collapsed by 35%, and exports completely collapsed by 51%. "The sources of budget filling are, in fact, blocked, reserves are exhausted. The fulfillment of social obligations is becoming more and more problematic," the Government of the PMR stated at the time.
The post-election crisis
In August and September, the mood in Tiraspol became more optimistic. It was noted that an agreement had been reached with Moldovagaz on supplies until March 31 next year, meaning the heating season should have passed without problems. Sergey Obolonik, Minister of Economic Development of the PMR, did not hide his optimism at that time. In an interview, he noted that the transit mechanism has been built, and the winter should pass quietly.
In turn, the President of the PMR Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that the republic's economy is recovering from the shock. According to him, all large enterprises receive sufficient gas and continue to operate, although difficulties remain with exporting products. He stressed that "everything will be fine and stable" in the energy sector in the near future.
Now, new gas supply disruptions have suddenly begun. In Chisinau, they say that European banks do not accept payments because they seem suspicious to them. "Now the fourth company from the United Arab Emirates is trying to find a European bank ready to carry out transactions, but so far none has given consent," explains Alexander Slusari, a representative of the Moldovan energy company Energocom.
It is difficult, however, to get rid of the feeling that everything is much more serious. The fact is that the current Transnistrian problems began immediately after the parliamentary elections in Moldova, which took place on September 28. The ruling party won, and President Maia Sandu immediately after the electoral procedure announced her desire to achieve the "reintegration of Transnistria."
According to her, Chisinau wants Russian peacekeepers and military personnel to leave the PMR, and the residents of the republic to realize that the standard of living on the other side of the Dniester is higher, and "return to their homeland." It is quite possible that blackmail with gas will be one of the tools to force the Transnistrians to submit. If this is true, then the current heating season will be extremely difficult.
What the experts say
Igor Shornikov, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of Russia, former Deputy Foreign Minister of the PMR, emphasizes that Pridnestrovie enters the heating period unprotected, a new difficult winter is quite real.
— The problem is that the existing gas supply chain is very vulnerable, it has too many participants and intermediaries, too many different extraneous factors. Failure is possible at any stage. The situation is such that Chisinau and the European Union are able to put pressure on Tiraspol, while they can do it as if they had nothing to do with it. In general, there is a noticeable tendency for relations between Chisinau to worsen, they are not going to negotiate there, they intend to put pressure and act from a position of strength," he assures.
Employees of Tirasteploenergo at the diesel fuel boiler room designed for heating the Republican Clinical Hospital in Tiraspol
Andrei Safonov, a deputy of the Supreme Council of the PMR, says that Moldova wants to subjugate Transnistria by undermining the economy and disrupting the work of large enterprises.
— After winning the parliamentary elections on September 28, the Moldovan authorities feel more relaxed and pursue a tougher policy. It is quite possible that they, together with the European Union, want to plunge Transnistria into a crisis similar to the one that occurred in January–February. Hopefully, common sense will prevail, but "we're keeping our powder dry," and we're preparing for the most difficult scenarios, he explains.
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