Moldovan Energy Ministry announces essential measures for energy stability

Chisinau, 16 December /MOLDPRES/ - The emergency state today entered into force in Moldova for a period of 60 days. In the context, the authorities gave the final touches to the measures of preparation for the 2024-2025 heating season and attenuation of the impact of the ceasing of the delivery of natural gas by the Gazprom giant to the left bank of Dniester as of 1 January 2025. At the same time, the authorities urge the residents to rationally use the electric energy, in order to cut the consumption, especially in the peak hours.     

The Energy Ministry today informed that the procurements of natural gas had been finished for the right bank of Dniester for the entire winter season. The stores of gas for the beginning of the 2025 year are estimated at about 110 million cubic metres, which is enough to covers the demands of consumption and to ensure a security stock for Moldova.  

As for the electric energy, the Energy Ministry noted that the discussions between the Energocom company and the companies Nuclearelectrica and OMV Petrom were underway for the supply of the imports of electric energy and ‘’the authorities consolidated the efforts for the increase in the domestic production of energy.’’ This means that the Termoelectrica stock company and the CET-Nord stock company reported additional production capacities, in order to ensure the continuous supply with thermal energy in the Chisinau and Balti municipalities. Also, Moldelectrica successfully tested the work in insular regime of the interconnection power lines with Romania and works to increase the capacity of import of electric energy, in cooperation with the ENTSO-E European network.     

Presently, over a half of the needed consumption of electric energy of the right bank of Dniester is covered by MGRES (Kuchurgan power station) and the contractual obligations of the station from the left bank of Dniester are valid till the end of December 2024. The rest of electric energy is produced by heating stations and at the expense of renewable energy resources, as well as from import from Romania, within the limit of the capacities allocated by ENTSO-E for the Ukraine-Moldova block.      

Yet, according to the Energy Ministry, the capacity of import of electric energy from the European Union is insufficient to cover the consumption demands in the peak hours. ‘’Also, the interconnection with the power network from Romania is vulnerable to interruptions, taking into account that the Isaccea-Vulcanesti power line crosses the territory of Ukraine and is exposed to risks of attacks on the energy infrastructure,’’ the Energy Ministry said.     

In these conditions, the authorities urge the residents to rationally use the electric energy, in order to reduce the consumption, especially in the peak hours.    

Also, on this period, the authorities of Moldova asked to resume the work of the Centre of Management in Emergency Situations of the Commission for Emergency Situations, which will provide the management of the energy situation in case of possible disconnections of power supply, which will be announced without delay on the government’s official channels, including in the context of attacks against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine or in the lack of a contract on supply of electric energy with MGRES.  

The authorities and operators of the energy sector monitor the evolution of the situation and will adopt the measures needed for minimizing the impact of the crisis on the population.