Government is looking for solutions for gas supply to the Transnistrian region after 2024, President Maia Sandu
The government is working on a solution so that the Transnistrian region can benefit from natural gas from the Russian Gazprom concern even after 2024, when the current agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expires. The statement was made by President Maia Sandu, during the "Secretele Puterii " show on Jurnal TV. The head of state said that the subject is on the agenda of the authorities in Chisinau and Kiev.
"Our discussions with the Ukrainian side were that they will continue to supply natural gas, but obviously things can change, because anything can change these days. The government has a scenario, it is working on solutions ".
Asked if the authorities are looking for solutions to supply the right bank of the Nistru with electricity, given that the current contract with the Cuciurgan plant, which provides almost 90% of the electricity needed, will expire at the end of this year, the president is confident that next year, "at this time", the Chisinau-Vulcănești high voltage line, which is currently being worked on, will be functional and the country will be able to purchase electricity from Romania.
Despite the war, Russian gas continues to transit through Ukraine to Europe under the current five-year contract signed at the end of 2019. Ukraine has already announced that it will not start talks with Russia to extend the deal, which expires at the end of 2024. For its part, the European Union declared that it does not see why the extension of the agreement would be needed.
We remind that currently Russian gas transits Ukraine and reaches the Republic of Moldova, more precisely, in the Transnistrian region. Previously, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Constantin Borosan, said Radio Moldova that Chisinau and Kiev are holding talks so that the Russian concern Gazprom can deliver natural gas to Turkey, and from there to Bulgaria, Romania and, through the Ukrainian gas pipeline - in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Borosan admitted that the transit of natural gas through several countries will bring higher costs.
Our country no longer depends on Russian gas while the right bank depends practically entirely on the electricity produced on the left side of the Nistru. Currently, Chisinau provides almost 90 percent of its electricity needs from the Cuciurgan Power Plant. The purchase contract, extended in the fall of 2023, will expire at the end of 2024. The cost of the energy procured from the Transnistrian region is 66 dollars for one MWh.
