Moldova Reliant on Transnistrian Power Until 2025
A press release issued by Energocom announced that the Cuciurgan Power Plant will remain the primary source of electricity for the right bank of the Nistru River in May.
Energocom will purchase approximately 277,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. An additional 43,000 MWh will be generated locally from renewable energy sources and urban thermal power plants.
The OPCOM exchange will supply an additional 600 MWh, specifically to meet peak hour consumption.
Constantin Borosan, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, recently announced that the Republic of Moldova will achieve independence from the Cuciurgan Power Plant, controlled by the unrecognised authorities in Transnistria, starting in 2025. This will be possible following the commissioning of the Vulcănești-Chișinău power line next year.
As a consequence of the energy crisis last fall, Moldova was compelled to import electricity from Romania at a higher price due to reduced natural gas supplies from Russia and the destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Under the current agreement, Gazprom supplies all of the natural gas to Transnistria. In exchange, the Cuciurgan Power Plant furnishes 90% of the right bank of the Nistru's electricity needs at a price of $66 per megawatt-hour. The remaining electricity is procured from renewable energy producers or the Romanian Electricity and Natural Gas Market Operator.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
