Electricity for the Republic of Moldova
Ştefan Stoica, 07.11.2022, 10:52
While Ukraine is the direct victim of Russian neo-imperialism of the Putin variety expressed through illegal and unjustified aggression, the Republic of Moldova is collateral damage. This small state with a majority Romanian-speaking population located between Ukraine and Romania is suffering the dramatic consequences of an energy crisis which the war has deepened and of the firm position of its pro-European administration to condemn the Russian invasion.
Last month, the company supplying electricity to Moldovas central and southern regions warned customers that they must prepare for electricity cuts this winter as the energy crisis is worsening. Earlier, Moldovan president Maia Sandu said Moldovans should continue to save energy amid rising prices. In a recent address to the Romanian Parliament, she said her country was at risk at running out of natural gas and electricity this winter because of the conflict. “After Russias shelling of Ukrainian networks, the Russian giant Gazprom halved the amount of gas delivered to Moldova and the supply of electricity on the left bank of the Dniester river has become uncertain for next month. Ensuring the countrys electricity is a daily challenge”, Maia Sandu said.
Aware of the complicated situation faced by Moldova following Russias shelling of Ukraines plants, Romania began to immediately provide Moldova with electricity and natural gas. At the moment, Romania is supplying 90% of Moldovas electricity demand, Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu told a private TV station. “Its serious, because the Republic of Moldovas energy situation is very complicated at the moment”, Aurescu emphasised. He said Romania also helped Moldova with its fuel oil and fire wood demand, with the government agreeing to provide 130,000 cubic metres of fire wood at Moldovas request. Just like the support granted to Ukraine to counteract Russias aggression is in fact tantamount to concrete support for the security and prosperity of Romania and its citizens, the support for the Republic of Moldova, a state that is very vulnerable to the effects of this aggression, contributes, at the end of the day, to Romanias own security, the Romanian minister explained. He also said that Bucharest would continue to call on the international community to provide grants to Moldova to allow it to purchase energy on the free market.
In Brussels, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen promised additional support for the Republic of Moldova to help cover its immediate needs of natural gas and electricity. (CM)
