Technical incident at MGRES forces brief blackout as plant shifts to coal stocks
A technical failure at the Moldovan Thermoelectric Plant (MGRES) triggered a partial blackout across the Transnistrian region on Friday, February 6.
Local sources reported that power generation was restored after approximately one hour. The grid is currently undergoing a phased reconnection process for affected consumers.
The outage resulted from an automatic emergency shutdown triggered at the plant’s boilers. While local officials downplayed the incident, independent monitors suggest a deeper systemic issue.
Shift to coal reserves
The "Zona de Securitate" platform reports that the plant quietly switched to coal operations on February 5. No official announcement preceded this significant change in fuel source.
Industry experts confirm that MGRES is currently depleting its remaining coal stockpiles. This move follows a year of escalating energy blockades in the breakaway region.
De facto authorities in Tiraspol claim there is no immediate risk of a natural gas deficit for the coming week. However, they have failed to clarify if gas volumes are sufficient for full-scale electricity production.
Persistent systemic risk
Energy transit through Ukraine remains halted due to the ongoing defensive war against Russian invasion. This has forced the region into a precarious and non-transparent alternative supply mechanism.
Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Valeriu Chiveri, warned of constant uncertainty. He noted that "mini-crises" occur every 10 to 14 days, with a persistent risk of a total gas cutoff.
The plant's reliance on coal is hampered by logistics. MGRES is designed for Donbas coal, which is currently impossible to import due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Historical context
Satellite imagery from early 2025 previously documented the rapid depletion of outdoor coal stocks. During that period, the plant operated on coal for only three weeks before facing similar pressures.
The Moldovan government continues to monitor the situation from Chisinau. Beyond energy security, the constitutional authorities provide social subsidies to approximately 20% of the region's population.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
