Moldova enacts state of emergency amid Russian gas cutoff
Starting on December 15, a state of emergency will be introduced throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova for a period of 60 days. The decision was made by parliament on Friday night, due to the anticipated cut-off of Russian gas supplies beginning January 1.
The government proposed the state of emergency based on a report by the Commission on Emergency Situations of the Republic of Moldova (CSE) because the shortage of energy resources directly and immediately affects the security of the state and its citizens.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean presented the motion in parliament, where it was voted on by 56 deputies, 17 were against, and three abstained - reported the MOLDPRES agency.
Concerns about the cut-off of supplies
The motion was presented in parliament by Prime Minister Dorin Recean.
- This winter must be the last winter in the country’s history during which we can be still threatened in the energy sector. We got rid of the gas blackmail on the right bank of Dniester and will get rid of the energy one with the finishing of the high-tension power line Chisinau-Vulcanesti - emphasized the head of government.
The Prime Minister noted that the interruption of natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, carried out by "Gazprom", could lead to a humanitarian crisis in the region, as well as pose a threat to the functioning and stability of Moldova's energy sector.
In such a situation, it will be necessary to engage more Moldovan authorities and enlist financial support from development partners.
The electricity deficit is to be covered by purchases on the electricity market in Romania, managed by the Romanian market operator OPCOM, within the transmission capacities (NTC) for electricity imports from the ENTSO-E offering area to the Ukraine–Moldova common regulatory block.
The situation is exacerbated by the limited electricity import capacity allocated to Ukraine and Moldova. Consequently, in addition to the inability to increase NTC between Romania and Moldova beyond the capacity of 315 MW, there's a risk of rising prices for imported electricity and the inability to cover the entire deficit.
A further challenge is that the Isaccea-Vulcănești power line passes through Ukrainian territory, making it vulnerable to interruptions in the event of new attacks on energy infrastructure in that country.
For this reason, the implementation of the state of emergency is necessary, as it allows for the immediate application of various measures by the Commission on Emergency Situations.
These measures aim to prevent, mitigate, and eliminate the consequences of the situation that led to the declaration of a state of emergency. As noted by MOLDPRES, it will be possible to introduce a special regime for the rapid purchase of electricity and natural gas, along with the allocation of funds for this purpose. The government will also have the authority to make decisions authorizing suppliers and system operators to act, purchase, transport, and distribute electricity and natural gas across the country's territory.
Moreover, through the provisions of the Commission on Emergency Situations, if necessary, it will be possible to ration energy resource consumption and ensure the process of informing citizens about the scale of the extraordinary situation and protection measures for the population.
