Moldovan Energy Ministry makes clarifications on January 31 power outage, operation of heating system of Chisinau

The Energy Ministry has provided additional clarifications regarding the way the major power outage of January 31 was managed and its impact on the heating system of the Chisinau municipality.

According to the information provided, at the time the power outage was recorded in the National Power System, the on-duty staff at the Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP), Source 1, intervened promptly, undertaking quick actions to balance the system. These measures made it possible to narrowly prevent the emergency shutdown of the generation equipment and to maintain the stability of the technological process.

Throughout the day, complex operational works were carried out to restore the work of the equipment. In cooperation with the national energy operators, Termoelectrica teams managed to restore the circulation of the thermal agent at all pumping stations. Central Thermal Points equipped with electric motors were restarted after the manual reconnection of the electrical connections.

At about 22:00, all consumers in the Botanica district of Chisinau who had been temporarily disconnected from heating during the day were reconnected to the thermal agent. Employees of the General Dispatch Service, as well as dispatchers of the pumping stations and suburban heating plants worked non-stop to restore the thermal and hydraulic regime at the Chisinau Heating Supply System (SACET).

At the same time, until late at night, all residential buildings equipped with individual thermal points were checked, in order to ensure the correct operation of the electronic and power equipment.

At present, the authorities announce that all three power units of CHP, Source 1, are operational and work as normal, contributing to the stability of the heating system and of the National Power System. All consumers of the Chisinau municipality benefit from thermal energy, with heat supply being provided continuously and within the established parameters.

The 20 pumping stations at district heating system (SACET) are operating stably, and the heating plants in the suburban area have been reconnected and are working as normal.

Citizens are asked that, if they notice deviations from the normal operating regime of the equipment or any leaks of thermal agent, hot water or persistent steam, they should notify the Housing Fund Administrator or the General Dispatch Service of Termoelectrica stock company, at the phone numbers 022 441 138 or 022 447 447.