Power lines on the outskirts of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. Photo: Aurel Obreja / AP / Profimedia
President Maia Sandu, newly reinstated, published on Facebook on Friday an exhortation to citizens to save electricity, while the government took a series of measures regarding public institutions, shops and televisions, informs News ro. The calls from the top of the state intervene under the conditions of the state of emergency decreed in the field of energy, as a result of concerns related to an electricity crisis and the increase in tariffs. Everything happens because in a few days, from January 1, Russia will no longer supply gas to Transnistria, and Chisinau will be supplied with electricity at lower prices from the separatist region.
“I know that energy prices are a concern for many. The government is doing everything possible to provide the country with electricity and gas, but also to help people with low incomes to pay their bills . But we can all make the situation easier. Small changes in our daily habits can have a big impact – they help us save energy and reduce costs,” said Maia Sandu in the post on Facebook, in which she also give some examples concrete gestures that can contribute to the lower consumption of electric current. .
“Together, we will have a good time this winter. Moldova has always shown that it is stronger when we are in solidarity,” President Maia Sandu told her fellow citizens.
The government is taking measures to reduce electricity consumption
On the other hand, the Commission for Extraordinary Situations from Chisinau, meeting on Friday, adopted measures to reduce electricity consumption. The document provides, among other things, that in public institutions and commercial units in the country, the internal lighting will be reduced and the operation of elevators and escalators will be limited starting from January 1 in 2025.
In addition, the Commission for Exceptional Situations has decided that, in order to raise awareness of public opinion, media service providers holding broadcasting licenses will ensure the transmission of materials with informative content during peak hours on efficiency measures of consumption of energy resources. Televisions and radios broadcast messages such as “Save electricity during peak hours: between 07:00 – 11:00 and 18:00 – 23:00 to pay less and avoid the risk of disconnections” or “Use the ‘electricity in an efficient way, heat and fuels’. “, informs the portal NewsMaker.md.
At the same time, companies with an energy-intensive production process (electric furnace, electric arc welding, electric melting installations, etc.) will organize the work schedule so that the processes in which the majority part of the electricity is used are performed outside. at 07:00 – 11:00 and 18:00 – 23:00.
The administrators of the water supply and sewage companies will regulate the operating regime of the reservoir pumps so that the consumption of electricity is reduced to a minimum between the hours of 07: 00 – 11:00 and 18:00 – 23:00 and is used to the maximum potential of the reservoirs.
The managers of apartment blocks and other buildings with elevators will place, at their call point on the ground floor, the announcement: “In the context of the risk of power outages during peak hours of consumption, it is not recommended to use the elevator between 07. : 00 and 11: 00: 00 and 18: 00 – 23: 00, to avoid blocking during movement “.
Moscow uses its gas as a weapon and as a means of blackmail
If the first mandate of Maia Sandu began in the midst of a pandemic, the new mandate also begins under the auspices of a crisis and a state of emergency decreed in the energy sector of the country starting from December 16, for a period of two months. Having a direct connection with the border war in Ukraine, the electricity supply of the Republic of Moldova is subject to the sign of precariousness with the expiration, at the end of the year, of the agreement for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. The separatist region of Transnistria risks running out of Russian gas, which jeopardizes the supply of electricity to the Republic of Moldova, at lower prices, from the Cuciurgan plant.
From 2022, Transnistria and the central government in Chisinau agreed that all Russian gas received from Moldova must reach Transnistria. The right bank of the Dniester secures its gas supply from other sources.
Meanwhile, Moscow uses its gas as a weapon and as a means of blackmail, because although there were alternative routes for the supply of gas from Transnistria, through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, Gazprom refused , making the condition of the payment of the debts that Chisinau has made. he does not recognize them. And at the level of propaganda, Russia raises its tone, directly accusing Maia Sandu of wanting to take over Transnistria by military force. Moscow also threatens to defend its citizens on the left of the Dniester.
