Moldova: Power Breaks due to Freeze of Russian Gas Flow · Global Voices

On a planned holiday, the authorities of Transnistria, the pro-Russian region of Moldova, will proceed as the deliveries of Russian gas, which is vital to its approximately 500,000 inhabitants, have ceased. Due to the lack of electricity, the local government had already discontinued the operation of many industries since Thursday (2.1.2024). However, this time, the holidays concern residences and will take place at intervals between 18.00 and 22.00. CORVERSE Specifically, the economy ministry of the enclave announced in a post on Telegram that “in Transnistria today, January 3, there will be a break in electricity. This is because residents consume more energy than produced.” Pro-Russian Transnistria leader Vadim Krasnoselski said 3,000 households no longer have electricity and heating, due to network overload. Authorities warned Thursday that the consequences would be “unreversible” after natural gas deliveries to the enclave ceased. Russian giant Gazprom has so far supplied the local distribution company Tiraspoltransgaz, which did not pay for the quantities it received. As Transnistria is not recognised by the international community, she sent the accounts to Chisinau, resulting in Moldova’s debt increasing towards Gazprom. CORVERSE Moscow claims Moldova owes it more than $700 million, but Chisinau says the debt is only 9 million. Due to the non-payment, Gazprom closed the rods on 1 January. The rest of Moldova currently has no holiday problem, mainly thanks to the help of neighbouring Romania and for taking drastic measures to reduce consumption. Moldova’s security campaign Following the interruption of the supply of Russian gas for tens of thousands of Transnistria residents, Moldova faces a security crisis, according to Prime Minister Dorin Rechan’s statement today (3,1204). Recan also said Moldova would meet its energy needs with domestic production and imports, but noted that the Transnistrian separatist region has suffered a painful blow despite its ties to Moscow. “Throwing at risk the future of the protectorate that has been supporting for three decades in an attempt to destabilise Moldova, Russia reveals the inevitable result for all its allies – treason and isolation,” Recan noted, adding: “We face this situation as a security crisis aimed at allowing pro-Russian forces to return to power in Moldova and arm our territory against Ukraine, with which we share a 1,200 km long border”. This southeastern European country with about 2.5 million inhabitants is at the heart of interest after Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, during a period of increasing tensions between Moscow and the West. Maya Santo’s pro-European president won a second term in last year’s election and is committed to speeding up reforms and strengthening democratisation. Moldova plans to hold parliamentary elections this summer. The predominantly Russian-speaking region of Transnistria, which split from Moldova in the 1990s, received Russian gas through Ukraine. In turn, Moldova used to receive most of its electricity from Transnistria, but with Kiev clarifying that it would stop the transit of natural gas from Russia, the Government of Chisinau prepared alternative arrangements, with a mixture of domestic production and imports of electricity from Romania, Rechan said. Moldovan Prime Minister said the Moldovan government remains committed to helping the enclave. “Alternate energy solutions, such as biomass systems, generators, humanitarian aid and basic medical supplies, are ready for delivery if the split leadership accepts support,” the government said in a statement. Krasnoselski said the area has reserves of natural gas that could cover 10 days of limited use in the northern sections and twice as many in the south. With information from APR-APM