Moldova Declares State of Emergency Amid Energy Supply Crisis
In a significant move to address the ongoing energy supply crisis, the Parliament of Moldova has approved a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector, set to commence next Monday. This decision comes in response to increasing concerns over the future of Russian gas supplies post-2025, which have been marred by recent interruptions. The vote, held in the early hours of Friday, garnered support from 56 deputies of the ruling Action and Solidarity (PAS) party, while 17 members of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists opposed the measure, with two abstentions, as reported by Moldovan news portal Newsmaker.
The energy crisis has intensified since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. In December, Prime Minister Dorin Recean took decisive action by dismissing Energy Minister Victor Parlokov and two other senior officials for their inadequate handling of the situation.
Since late 2022, Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, has been supplying Moldova with 57 million cubic meters of gas. However, the transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine is due to expire at the end of 2024, and Ukraine has refused to extend it. This refusal has complicated negotiations and raised fears of further reliance on Russian gas. Prime Minister Recean has vocalized the necessity to end the so-called 'gas blackmail' from Moscow, asserting that this winter must mark the last time Moldova faces such threats regarding its energy supplies.
The emergency declaration empowers the Moldovan government to implement immediate measures to prevent energy shortages, including halting energy exports and managing domestic supply effectively. Currently, Moldova relies heavily on approximately 2 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia, which travels through Ukrainian pipelines. The uncertainty over the future of this transit agreement has put Moldova's energy stability in jeopardy.
Moreover, the Transnistria region, which borders Ukraine and depends significantly on Russian gas, has entered its own economic emergency following fears of energy shortages. In 2022, Moldova's government had previously arranged for all Russian gas intended for Moldova to first be funneled to Transnistria, which houses a gas-powered power plant crucial for both its local economy and for supplying energy to areas controlled by the Moldovan government.
As Moldova navigates this precarious situation, the government continues to seek solutions to ensure stable energy supplies and lessen the country's dependency on Russian energy amidst growing geopolitical tensions.
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