Systemic weather disruptions cripple Moldova’s energy infrastructure; recovery underway
Severe winter weather, characterized by freezing rain and heavy ice loading, has paralyzed electricity distribution across multiple regions in the Republic of Moldova. The Ministry of Energy confirmed today, January 27, that the storm triggered significant structural damage, including snapped conductors, collapsed trees, and downed power poles.
As of 06:45 AM, the south-central operator, Premier Energy Distribution, reported that 4,457 consumers remain partially affected, with the Criuleni district suffering the highest impact. In the northern region, RED-Nord recorded unscheduled outages affecting 16,408 system users due to the intensity of the ice accumulation.
Data indicates a persistent crisis for 9,181 consumers who have been without power since the evening of January 26. Emergency crews are currently managing 363 active intervention notices to restore basic services to these households.
Technical damage and grid status
The state-owned transport authority, Moldelectrica, reported critical mechanical failures on high-voltage lines. Specifically, the weight of the ice caused 15 electricity poles to snap and forced the disconnection of several 110 kV transmission lines, particularly in the Dubăsari area.
Utility teams are currently on-site to secure hazardous areas where trees have collapsed onto live wires. Repair efforts remain hindered by ongoing glaze ice conditions, which continue to place extreme mechanical stress on the remaining 10 kV feeders across the North and Central branches.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
