Moldova declares state of emergency amid gas crisis fears
Starting on 15th December, 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 evening. This decision was taken due to the anticipated cessation of Russian gas supplies from 1st January.
The introduction of the state of emergency was proposed by the government, 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.
The motion presented in parliament by Prime Minister Dorin Recean was voted on by 56 deputies, with 17 against, and three abstaining - the MOLDPRES agency reported.
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 - emphasised the head of government.
The Prime Minister noted that the interruption of natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, carried out by "Gazprom", could cause a humanitarian crisis in the region, as well as a threat to the functioning and stability of Moldova's energy sector.
In such a situation, it will be necessary to involve more Moldovan authorities and seek 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 capacity for electricity imports allocated to Ukraine and Moldova. Consequently, alongside the inability to increase NTC between Romania and Moldova beyond the value of 315 megawatts, there is a risk of rising prices for imported electricity and a potential inability to cover the entire deficit.
An additional complication is the fact that the Isaccea-Vulcănești power line runs through Ukrainian territory, making it vulnerable to interruptions in the event of new attacks on energy infrastructure in that country.
For this reason, the introduction of the state of emergency is necessary, as it allows the immediate application of a range of measures by the Commission on Emergency Situations.
These measures will 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, in particular, it will be possible to introduce a special regime for the rapid purchase of electricity and natural gas and to allocate funds for this purpose. The government will also be able to make decisions authorising suppliers and system operators to act, purchase, transport, and distribute electricity and natural gas throughout the country's territory.
Moreover, through the provisions of the Commission on Emergency Situations, it will be possible, if necessary, to ration the consumption of energy resources and ensure the process of informing citizens about the scale of the extraordinary situation and population protection measures.
