The Danube crisis strains Moldova's energy system, risking disconnections in August
The Republic of Moldova may experience power outages in August due to drought conditions and low water levels in the Danube River. Sergiu Tofilat, a community energy expert from WatchDog.MD, warns that these outages are likely to occur during peak consumption hours, particularly in the morning and evening when electricity demand is at its highest.
“We import energy from Romania, and Romania – from its neighbors. An energy deficit has formed throughout the Balkans due to drought and low water levels in the Danube. Nuclear reactors in Romania and Hungary cannot be cooled and are disconnected from the grid, and in Serbia, hydropower plants are operating at 20-30% capacity,” explains Tofilat.
According to him, in Romania, nuclear energy covers about 22% of energy consumption, and one of the two 650 MW reactors at Cernavoda has already been shut down, and the other may be shut down in the near future.
A similar situation is also recorded in Hungary, where the Paks nuclear power plant is operating at a reduced capacity. Out of 2,000 MW, the reactor produces only 240 MW and there is a risk that it will be disconnected in the coming days.
In this context, Sergiu Tofilat recommends reducing energy consumption in the morning - between 07:00 and 11:00, and in the evening - between 18:00 and 23:00.
“During this period, energy consumption increases, and we may experience disconnections for a few hours. Some districts will be disconnected while others will have power, and then we will switch places. However, we can avoid the risk of disconnections if we reduce consumption during peak hours,” explains the expert.
During the day, consumers can use energy without limitations, thanks to internal renewable energy resources.
“Please try to use electrical equipment during the day or after 11:00 p.m. It's important to inform your relatives and neighbors that we need to save energy during peak hours, in the morning and evening, to prevent disconnections,” suggests Sergiu Tofilat.
The drought and low water levels in the Danube will continue to pose a risk of disconnections throughout the month, but Tofilat states that “it is unclear what will happen beyond that.” The situation depends on the Danube's water level.
“Until then, let's make an effort to save energy in the morning and evening,” Tofilat concluded.
On August 4, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu urged the public to reduce electricity consumption to avoid potential disconnections. He noted that the heatwave affecting the entire region has caused a significant increase in electricity consumption, while production is limited due in part to the extremely low flow of the Danube, which impacts the operation of some power plants.
