Experts about the authorities' decision to procure electricity from the left side of the Nistru: "An acceptable solution for a relatively short period"
The decision of the authorities to procure electricity from the Cuciurgan Power Plant for the right bank of the Nistru, in exchange for the gas that the Republic of Moldova procures from Gazprom, is commented on differently by experts. While some consider that thus Chisinau gave in to Tiraspol, others comment on the decision as an acceptable compromise.
The announcement made by Chisinau regarding the resumption of the contract with the Cuciurgan Power Plant was harshly criticized by some politicians and experts. The economic analyst, Veaceslav Ioniță, commented that the Republic of Moldova will pay for the electricity produced on the left side of the Nistru, while the separatist authorities will not pay for the gas consumed. On the other hand, the energy expert, Ion Muntean, commented for Radio Moldova that the authorities' decision to sign the Contract with the Cuciurgan Power Plant is an acceptable compromise, and the price is an advantageous one. "The fact that an agreement was reached with the Cuciurgan Power Plant, in the current situation, I think is an acceptable solution for a relatively short period of time. I mean two or three months. We must understand that this is not the real price either. If the Transnistrian region or the Moldovan Thermal Power Plant pay for the natural gas they purchase, then the price would be much higher. I don't see any problem that in two months the volumes of natural gas will be reduced to the maximum, leaving only the necessary volumes that are for domestic consumers, necessary for the Transnistrian region", explained Ion Munteanu. The Director of the Board of Directors of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, claims that thanks to the contract, the Cuciurgan Power Plant will deliver up to 75% of the daily electricity consumption on the right bank in December, and the Republic of Moldova will save over 70 million euros per month . *"We will pay, for 204 MW/h, 73 dollars per MW, around 15 million dollars. Now to compare 204 thousand MW/h from Romania we have to pay 450 euros per MW, 91 million euros, at market price. With 76 million euros we pay less compared to if we had procured from the market. Gas prices are high, that's the problem, but otherwise we had the problem with both gas and electricity", *Vadim Ceban mentioned. We remind you that on Saturday Energocom signed the contract with the Cuciurgan plant for the supply of electricity to the right bank of the Nistru for the month of December. The quantity delivered is about 204 thousand MW/h, at a price of 73 dollars per MW/h. According to the authorities, this price will allow the electricity tariff to be reduced.
