Energy Ministry: in last 24 hours, electricity consumption fully covered under commercial contracts

Chisinau, Jan. 4 /MOLDPRES/ - In the last 24 hours, electricity consumption in Moldova was fully covered under commercial contracts, without the need to activate the blackout contracts. The data were presented today by the Energy Ministry.

According to the institution, on January 3, electricity consumption on the territory of the Republic of Moldova on the right bank of the Dniester River increased by 8.3% on January 2.

"This means a consumption of 15 098 000 kWh. In the last 24 hours, the electricity consumption in the Republic of Moldova was fully covered under commercial contracts, without the need to activate the outage contracts. This operational data is collected in real time through the SCADA system," the Ministry of Energy said.

The details of the energy sources used are as follows: Termoelectrica - 28.32%, CET-Nord - 4.29%, State Enterprise NHE Costești - 1.06%, renewable energy - 7.73%, balance of electricity import (MD/ RO) - 58.60%.

Also, Energocom announced that the electricity needs for Saturday, January 4, are 100% covered. Thus, the company has made capacity reservations at the Romanian border in order to supplement the electricity consumption needs.

The institution emphasized that as a rule, on Saturdays electricity consumption is 7-10% lower than on a working day. Energocom notes that more challenges related to capacity reservation are expected after the old-fashioned holidays.

The commercial capacity at the border with Romania is limited for the Republic of Moldova to 315 MW band (24/24) out of 650-800 MW needed in winter. Under these circumstances, additional auctions are organized for the reservation of unused capacities at Ukraine's other borders with the EU.

Thus, by January 4, the electricity consumption will be covered by district heating plants in Chisinau and Balti, local renewable energy facilities, and the rest of the electricity will be purchased from imports and stock exchange.

As of January 1, 2025, the Cuciurgan power plant will no longer supply electricity to the right bank of the Dniester, after the Russian Gazprom stopped gas supplies.

Under these circumstances, Chisinau authorities have announced that in January Moldova's electricity consumption needs (on the right bank of the Dniester) will be met by local production and imports from Romania. According to forecasts, the thermal power plants in Chisinau and Balti will provide about 28% of consumption. Renewable energy will make up another 10%. The remaining 62% of electricity needs will be imported from Romania.