Title: Moldova Offers Gas, Power Assistance to Pridnestrovie; No Response from Tiraspol
Article:
In an effort to aid the struggling energy sector of Pridnestrovie (Transnistria), Moldovan authorities proposed solutions for gas and power procurement back in December 2024. However, the self-proclaimed republic has yet to acknowledge or respond to these offers.
According to Constantin Borosan, Moldova’s State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, the proposals included:
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Gas Procurement: The Ministry suggested that "Tiraspoltransgaz" explore alternative gas supplies by purchasing from Romanian exchanges, providing a fallback option in case Russian gas imports ceased.
- Power Generation: Moldovan power utility "Moldovagaz" and energy trader "Energocom" jointly proposed a mechanism to buy gas on regional markets. Additionally, they suggested that the Moldavian GRES, Pridnestrovie’s main electricity generator, switch to burning gas purchased by Energocom to produce electricity.
However, Borosan revealed that Moldova has not received any response from Pridnestrovie. Furthermore, "Tiraspoltransgaz" promptly rejected further cooperation on the same day the proposals were made (January 2).
In the wake of Russia halting gas supplies to Pridnestrovie on January 1, 2025, the region is grappling with severe energy shortages. As of now, electricity demand exceeds supply by around 30%, or 65 MW, placing significant strain on distribution networks. To mitigate the crisis, Moldova has warned that power rationing may become necessary to prevent a complete system breakdown.
The energy crunch in Pridnestrovie has left tens of thousands of households without gas and brought local industries to a standstill. To keep the lights on, Moldavian GRES has resorted to burning coal, but existing stockpiles are only expected to last until late January.
The current energy predicament in Pridnestrovie and its impact on Moldova are explored in-depth in a recent Eurointegration article, "Why is the Kremlin freezing Pridnestrovie?"
Worth a look