Moldova: Water Breaks Started After Power Breaks · Global Voices

Vacations in water supply, after power cuts brings the energy crisis to the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria, Moldova, as Prime Minister Dorin Recan said, according to Bloomberg. “People don’t have for hours, they don’t have heating, they don’t have access to gas, and as of today they even have a break in supply, ” Recan told reporters Monday. “Some people freeze, some have problems with basic needs”. CORVERSE The area of approximately 350,000 inhabitants – located on the left bank of the Dniestero River and adjacent to Ukraine – saw the natural gas flow cut off on January 1, when the transit agreement between Moscow and Kiev ended. Discussions between Russian Gazprom PJSC and Moldova to secure supplies on alternative routes have been hampered by a dispute over alleged debt. Over the last two years, Transnistria received all the gas that Moldova imported from Gazprom – about 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The area used the fuel for its own consumption and for the production of electricity also provided to the rest of the country. “There is no point in talking to Gazprom, because this is the Kremlin’s decision to cause a humanitarian crisis on the left bank,” said Recan, when asked if there were talks between the Moldovan government in Chisinau and the Russian producer about reopening the gas flow to Transnistria. CORVERSE While Moldova cannot currently deliver natural gas or electricity to Transnistria, it offers some social, medical and educational services to local residents if they cross the river, according to the Prime Minister. “We see an increased absorption” of these services, Rechan said. Moldovans living on the right bank have no problems with gas supply, as the government has differentiated its sources. Electricity supply to the territory remains vulnerable amid the lack of electricity generation in Transnistria. In the early days of January, Moldova’s energy needs, excluding the breakaway region, were equally covered by domestic sources and imports from Romania. “We need to adapt here to higher energy prices, especially higher electricity prices,” Rechan said. Earlier this year the National Energy Regulatory Agency increased tariffs for electricity and heating.