A breakaway region in Moldova plunged into an energy crisis on Wednesday after Russia stopped its natural gas supply through Ukraine. The abrupt halt has left the basically Russian-speaking territory of 450,000 residents in the dark and without heating and hot water as winter looms.
The stoppage followed the expiry of a gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Transdniestria, that depends on Russian gas transported via Ukrainian pipelines, was affected from the very outset. The heating and hot water supplies were reportedly suspended early yesterday morning, said Tirasteploenergo, a local energy company. However, essential facilities like hospitals were excluded.
People were advised to put on warmer clothing, combine their household members into a single room for safety purposes, and use electric heaters. It was not advisable to use stoves of either gas or electric for heating, as the risk was immense.
Temperatures in Tiraspol, the region’s capital, dropped to 4°C (39°F). Olga, a mother of two, described the situation as dire, noting her apartment radiators provided little warmth. “We’ve set up two rooms with electric fireplaces, hoping this is temporary,” she said.
Transdniestria’s parliament addressed Moscow, saying it needed to resolve the current situation by immediately agreeing on a new transit treaty with Ukraine for gas to pass through. Russian officials said it would protect citizens and troops, but negotiations will not be done.
Until recently, Transdniestria received about 2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually. The supply kept a local power plant running, which produced electricity for Moldova. The gas stoppage marks the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute between Moldova and Russia, with Moldova contesting debts claimed by Russia and accusing Moscow of using energy as a political weapon charges Russia denies.
In response, Moldova has taken steps to decrease energy consumption by 33%. State Secretary for Energy Constantin Borosan said that the efforts of citizens to reduce demand have made the energy load curve smoother. According to Energocom, the state energy company, 38% of the country’s energy is now produced domestically, including 10% from renewable sources, while 62% is imported from Romania.
As the winter sets in uncertainly, challenges mount for the Transdniestrian region. Regional geopolitical tensions are on an all-time rise.
