Moldova approves gas connection for 14 Security Zone localities
The Emergency Situations Commission (ESC) has approved the connection of 14 localities in the Security Zone to Moldovagaz's gas network, requiring the construction of new pipelines and connection points.
This process typically takes up to 9 months, making it unlikely that residents of these villages will have access to natural gas this winter.
Vadim Ceban, the interim chairman of Moldovagaz's Board of Directors, told Teleradio-Moldova that the plan to connect 14 localities on the right bank of the Dniester River to the gas network will be submitted to the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) on Friday, after which construction of the new pipelines will begin "in the near future."
"We will submit the supplement to the distribution network development program to ANRE on Friday, along with the implementation timeline. Typically, such projects take 6 to 9 months, considering the entire process from initiation and design to procurement. In this case, it will be expedited and completed in the near future," explained Vadim Ceban, without specifying a concrete deadline for the connection of the 14 localities.
On Monday, the Emergency Situations Commission approved the connection of 14 localities to the natural gas networks operated by licensed distributors under the Moldovagaz group. These include the villages of Pohrebea, Coșnița, Pîrîta, Doroțcaia, Molovata Nouă, Roghi, Cocieri, Corjova, and Vasilievca in Dubăsari district; Hîrbovăț and Varnița in Anenii Noi district; and Fîrlădeni, Hagimus, and Copanca in Căușeni district, which are currently connected to the gas networks on the left bank of the Dniester River.
Under the ESC decision, distribution system operators must submit, within 5 working days of the decision's adoption, a supplementary project to modify development and investment plans, incorporating the specified investment objectives. Following this, ANRE will approve the proposed modifications to the development and investment plans within 3 working days of submission.
ESC: Localities in the Security Zone will be connected to gas and electricity networks on the right bank of the Dniester River.
Massive gas and heating outages on the left bank of the Dniester River. How are residents managing?
The energy crisis in the Transnistrian region and the Security Zone worsened after Gazprom suspended natural gas deliveries starting January 1 at 07:00. Gazprom cited Moldova's refusal to pay so-called historical debts, claiming over $700 million in alleged debts, a figure disputed by Moldova and refuted by an international audit.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
