Energy After the end of Russian gas supplies: power cut in Transnistria
Following the suspension of Russian gas supplies, the Transnistria region in Moldova, which is controlled by pro-Russian forces, has had to carry out emergency power cuts. There will be planned power cuts on Friday, according to reports.
03.01.2025, 17:38
SDA
"The inhabitants of the republic are currently consuming more electricity than is being produced by the energy system," the local Ministry of Economy announced on the online service Telegram. The power cuts would take place between 18:00 and 22:00.
Due to the lack of gas supplies, many companies in Transnistria had already been forced to shut down on Thursday. The local authorities spoke of a "serious crisis" with "irreversible" consequences.
Russian gas supplies to Transnistria were suspended on Wednesday. The approximately 450,000 inhabitants of the region were asked to "dress warmly", to "gather in one room" and not to use home-made heating devices to prevent fires.
The Russian energy giant Gazprom had ended its gas supplies due to a financial dispute with the Moldovan government: Gazprom had previously supplied Transnistria with gas via the local energy supplier Tiraspoltransgaz without Transnistria paying for it. The region, which is controlled by pro-Russian forces, sent the payment requests to Chisinau, increasing the debt to Gazprom. In view of this unprecedented situation, a state of emergency was declared in Moldova for 60 days from December 16.
The rest of Moldova was spared an acute gas shortage for the time being - thanks in part to supplies from neighboring Romania. Moldova has not received any Russian gas since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but relies on a power plant in Transnistria for a large part of its electricity needs.
