Electricity for the Republic of Moldova

The majority Romanian speaking Republic of Moldova is receiving electricity from Romania from Thursday night. The supply contract was signed by the Romanian company Hidroelectrica and the Moldovan company Energocom for 100 MWh and covers Moldova's needs after the neighbouring Ukraine, invaded by Russian troops, had to suspend electricity deliveries because of damages to its energy infrastructure caused by enemy shelling. Before that, Ukraine was providing a third of Moldova's electricity demand.

Radio Romania's correspondents in Chişinău note that the supply of electricity by Romania became possible after the synchronisation of Moldova's energy grid with that of the European Union as early as March, when the war was still in its early days. Moreover, says the Romanian energy minister Virgil Popescu, Moldova will be able to buy electricity from Romania at a lower price than that on the free market, at some 90 euros/MWh. The Moldovan deputy prime minister Andrei Spînu said in a statement that "thanks to the openness and warm support provided by Romania to our citizens, we know we are not alone and that we have a friend we can rely on in situations of maximum emergency, Romania!". Moldova's president Maia Sandu also said that the decision of the Romanian state to supply her country with a third of its electricity demand amounts to providential support in difficult times. "We appreciate this prompt and generous support in these challenging times for us", she said, while also urging her citizens to save electricity where possible.

Established on some of the former eastern Romanian territories annexed by Stalin's Soviet Union in 1940 following an ultimatum, the Republic of Moldova became independent in 1991 and has since enjoyed constant political, diplomatic, economic and social support from Romania. The latest gesture comes ahead of winter, at a time when, like all other EU member states, Romania itself is not doing too well when it comes to electricity. A week ago, president Klaus Iohannis said "a decent saving plan was called for", having earlier promised that Romanians would not suffer from cold and would not run out of electricity in their homes. (CM)