Energy minister says Moldova covered 94 per cent of consumption from domestic sources one day after partial blackout

Moldova has managed to cover 94 per cent of its electricity consumption from domestic sources at 12:42, one day after the partial blackout, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said.

According to the transmission system operator, Moldelectrica, at that time only 29.5 MW of electricity were being imported through the four 110 kV lines, which were operating in island mode with the Romanian power system.

As much 376 MW of the total domestically produced energy was generated by the combined heat and power plants of Termoelectrica and CET Nord, over 118 MW - by photovoltaic panels, over 18 MW - by hydropower plants, and around 10 MW - by wind power plants.

The minister emphasized that these figures reflected the situation at a specific moment of the day, especially on a weekend, when consumption is lower. “In the morning and evening, consumption will be higher, and solar energy will not be available, so the situation will be different,” Dorin Junghietu noted.

In the context, the authorities estimate that approximately 200 MW of energy storage systems (BESS) will be installed during the current year. They will allow renewable energy produced during the day to be used during peak consumption periods, in the morning and evening.

At the same time, the minister said that, on January 31, the supply of consumers had been ensured from multiple sources: domestic generation, imports through the four 110 kV lines (Stanca–Costesti, Husi–Cioara, Tutora–Ungheni and Falciu–Gotesti), as well as via the Isaccea–Vulcanesti high-voltage line and transit from Romania on the Dnestrovsk–Balti line.

On January 31, at 10:42, disturbances were recorded in the power system of Moldova after the voltage dropped on the 400 kV high-voltage line Isaccea–Vulcanesti–MGRES (Kuchurgan power station). Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu announced that Moldova was facing a delicate situation in the national power system as a result of faults in Ukraine’s power grid. The process of restoring electricity supply in the transmission system was completed around 15:40 all over the country.