Press review // Historic moment: European gas is heading to the Transnistrian region
Media outlets from the Republic of Moldova reflect the resumption of natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region from European funds. Why does the EU continue to invest in UTAG if 95% of locals voted against the referendum for the introduction of the European vector in the country's Constitution, the prospects for completing the construction of the Vulcănești-Chișinău high-voltage power line by the end of the year, as well as the forecasts of specialists regarding new increases in apartment prices, are other topics covered by the media.
Historic moment: European gas is heading to the Transnistrian region, headlines Radio Chisinau. The Ministry of Energy has published several images of the opening of the tap at the gas metering station in Tocuz-Căușeni, after the CSE authorized the purchase of gas by Energocom to the Transnistrian region, informs the radio station's website.
Moldovagaz began delivering natural gas to the Transnistrian region on February 1, based on the loan agreement for 3 million cubic meters, recently signed with Tiraspoltransgaz. The information was confirmed for IPN by the interim head of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban. Under the agreement, the borrowed gas volume is to be returned by March 1 of this year, writes the agency.
Tiraspol media writes that the supply of natural gas to private homes is resumed after the completion of the necessary technical procedures, and on social networks, several residents of the region confirmed the reappearance of heat in radiators, reports Free Europe. Also, starting on Saturday, the region has abandoned the energy disconnections in a fan, a measure that had been imposed after the interruption of gas supplies by Gazprom, due to the expiration of the transit contract through Ukraine and a debt unrecognized by Chisinau, writes the author of the article.
Deceived by Putin, the separatist Krasnoselski thanks the European Union for bringing Transnistrian region out of darkness, headlines Ziarul Național. According to Krasnoselski, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, brought heat and light to the homes of over 350 thousand Transnistrians. However, in his characteristic style, Krasnoselski resumed disinformation regarding the fact that the Chisinau government had blocked deliveries to the region, writes the author of the article. The separatist leader thanked the European Union for the humanitarian gas delivered to the region, after Russia stopped deliveries on January 1, despite the contract it assumed, writes Ziarul National.
The government in Chisinau is behaving responsibly, thinking about the good of all citizens of the Republic of Moldova, but many of them remain convinced that Russia is helping them, not Chisinau, comments journalist Vitalie Ciobanu in an editorial published by DW. We still do not know how Chisinau's efforts to alleviate the energy crisis on both sides of the Nistru will be reflected in the upcoming parliamentary elections, with 8-9 months to go until then, writes the author of the article. Vitalie Ciobanu draws attention to the fact that without breaking the circle of mental servitude of Moldovans towards Russia, we risk that their anger and frustration, caused by the increase in energy prices, will spill over onto the current government, not the Putin regime. And then we will ask ourselves: what good is all this work, all the sacrifices, all the insults received? – comments Vitalie Ciobanu.
For the European Union, the uniform, equal development of all areas of the Republic of Moldova is important. This is the answer given by the head of the Delegation of the EU in Chisinau, Ambassador Jānis Mažeiks, who explained why the European Union continues to invest in Gagauzia if 95% of the locals voted against the referendum on introducing the European vector into the country's Constitution, IPN reports. "I believe that the EU can be a very important partner for the Gagauz. Why? Because in the European Union this diversity is appreciated," Jānis Mažeiks said. According to the ambassador, the EU will continue to implement projects in Gagauzia. "I hope that in time the people of Gagauzia will also understand better where their true friends are and where the future of Gagauzia and the Republic of Moldova lies," Jānis Mažeiks said, quoted by IPN.
The Vulcănești-Chișinău high-voltage power line, the largest energy project in the Republic of Moldova, will be ready in December 2025. This objective, set by the authorities, was reiterated in the ZdCe podcast by Ruslan Surugiu, director of the Consolidated Unit for the Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in the Field of Energy. The official emphasized that the line is necessary, first of all, for the energy security of the Republic of Moldova and to exclude vulnerability to the MoldGRES energy node in the Transnistrian region. Also, it opens up possibilities for more affordable electricity prices, Ruslan Surugiu emphasized in the ZdG podcast.
In the same podcast, the UCIPE director answers questions about the controversies related to the construction of the Vulcănești-Chișinău line, such as the quality of the works carried out by the Indian company KEC International, the way the tender for its designation was organized, as well as the fact that a criminal investigation is underway by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office on this case, ZdG writes.
The authorities are examining the possibility of boosting the works on the Vulcănești-Chișinău power line. In this regard, the Government is discussing with the main financier, the World Bank, the undertaking of actions that could expedite the commissioning of the line, Newsmaker reports, citing a statement by President Maia Sandu.
The myth of rich soils in Moldova and the real price of agricultural land. This is the title of an analysis published by the Mold-Street portal. According to the scientist Andrei Gumovski, associate professor, the Republic of Moldova has on average soils with a moderate degree of fertility, and the amount of humus in the soil is decreasing year by year. Periodically, the topic of offering the right to buy and sell agricultural land to foreigners appears in the public space, the author of the article reports. However, statistical data show that in the structure of foreign direct investments, the share of the agricultural sector is close to zero. One of the three factors is the limitation of property rights, Mold-street reports.
Apartment prices in Chisinau will stagnate in the next three months, after which they will continue to grow, reveals PRO TV Chisinau. This is after in 2024 the price of an apartment increased by approximately 20%, the TV station notes. According to the requested experts, the main reasons that led to the increase in prices on the real estate market are the small supply to demand, but also the increase in construction costs. Veaceslav Ioniță, economic expert IDIS Viitorul: The costs in the construction industry, materials, metal, labor, have simply exploded in prices. Victor Romanescu, representative of a real estate agency: With a continuously decreasing supply, prices will inevitably continue to increase. We estimate from 5 to 10% normally, and from 15 to 25% in market conditions when the supply is very low.
