Aging infrastructure triggers emergency shutdown at Moldova’s main power supplier
Transnistria’s breakaway region suffered a major power outage on Friday after a generation unit at the Cuciurgan (MGRES) power plant failed. De facto authorities in Tiraspol reported that the electrical grid was gradually restored across the territory following the incident.
Regional media outlets confirmed that the Tiraspol administration ordered the immediate activation of a secondary power unit. This move aims to stabilize the supply for local consumers after the primary equipment went offline.
Ministry cites lack of investment
Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu attributed the failure to systemic infrastructure degradation. He noted that the plant has relied on routine maintenance for decades without significant capital investment in modernizing its core components.
"At 15:08, Power Unit No. 8 at MGRES triggered its automated safety protocols and shut down," Junghietu stated. He emphasized that while engineers are reconfiguring the grid where possible, the plant's aging technology remains a critical vulnerability.
A warning for future stability
The Energy Minister warned that similar breakdowns are inevitable without a fundamental overhaul of the facility. He stressed that as long as the equipment remains outdated, the risk of sudden technical failures continues to threaten regional energy security.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
