Moldovan PM chairs meeting of commission for coordination of measures of preparing for 2024-2025 heating season

Chisinau, 13 December /MOLDPRES/ - The measures of prevention and attenuation of the impact of the energy crisis in case of the ceasing of the delivery of natural gas by the Gazprom giant to the left bank of Dniester starting from 1 January 2025 today were discussed by the members of the governmental commission for coordination of the measures of preparation for the 2024-2025 heating season, the government’s communication department has reported.     

The participants in the meeting unveiled information on the stocks and procurements of natural gas and electric energy, the capacity of transport of energy resources, as well as the elaboration of information campaigns on measures undertaken on the purpose of cutting of energy resources, etc.     

According to the report presented, the Moldovagaz stock company informed that it had finished at the 100 per cent level the procurement of the volumes of natural gas for the right bank of Dniester for the entire winter season. The average weighted price of the procurements is 509 euros/1,000 cubic metres – a cost which will not allow the company demanding the increase in the tariff this winter.     

In its report, the operator of the natural gas transport system, Vestmoldtransgaz Ltd company, said that it would take all measures needed for increasing the maximal value of the Operational Balancing Account (OBA) in the current interconnection points in Ukraine and Moldova, which work in usual regime, without major risks, in order to give possibility of a quick reaction in balancing the system of transport of natural gas.      

As for the supply with electric energy, the Energocom stock company said that it had had discussions with the Nuclearelectrica stock company, as well as OMV Petrom stock company, in order to negotiate the supply of the imports of electric energy at preferential price till late next March; these companies expressed willingness to increase the quantity of electric energy commercialized with Energocom stock company for the concerned period. Also, Energocom took all measures, in order to increase the volumes of procurements of electric energy generated in Moldova. Additionally, both the Termoelectrica stock company and the CET-Nord stock company reported about the possibilities they had to increase the production of electric energy and the lack of significant risks as regards the good work of the equipment for the generation and distribution of thermal energy, as well as the qualitative supply of consumers from the Chisinau and Balti cities with thermal energy.     

As for the transport of electric energy, the Moldelectrica stock company informed that it had successfully tested the work in insular regime of those four power lines of 110 kV of interconnection with Romania, where the maximal capacity which can be used will reach 110 MW. At the same time, Moldelectrica has discussions with ENTSO-E, in order to increase the capacity which Moldova can provide on the interconnections with Romania.    

In the context, PM Dorin Recean asked all competent authorities and energy enterprises to carry out campaigns of informing citizens about the need to rationally consume the electric energy, especially in the peak hours, which, besides the decrease of the consumption in the country, will contribute to the stability of the power networks.   

As for the stocks of alternative fuel, according to decision-makers from the Material Reserves Agency, the reserves of coal are supplied at the level of 100 per cent. At the same time, the available stocks of crude oil in the state reserves are completed within the limit of the current storing capacities.  

Prime Minister Dorin Recean stressed that the competent institutions must be prepared to ensure the continuous delivery of electric energy and natural gas. ‘’The crisis scenarios and the measures of prevention or attenuation of the impact of possible emergency situations in the electric energy sector will be activated depending on the triggering factor,’’ the PM noted.    

At the same time, the prime minister asked to resume the work of the centre for management in emergency situations of Moldova’s Commission for Emergency Situations (CSE), hosted by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The Centre should be functional, if disconnections from power supply appear, caused by bombardments of the energy infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as in case a contract on delivery of electric energy with the Kuchurgan Power Station is not signed.    

It is worth mentioning that the parliament approved the establishment of the emergency state for a period of 60 days starting from 16 December, given the situation in the energy sector.