Romania helps Moldova overcome energy crisis

Chisinau, 2 January /MOLDPRES/ - Romania delivers electric energy to Moldova, after Gazprom no longer supplies gas to the Kuchurgan power station (MGRES). The overall export to Moldova through the Isaccea-Vulcanesti power line and other lines which cross the Prut river exceeds 400 MW. Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja has made statements to this effect.  
The Romanian official said that, on this period, he had had discussions with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen and all those involved in the Romanian energy sector. ‘’In these difficult moments, we stand with our brothers from beyond the Prut river. The Russian gas was ceased for the Kuchurgan power station from Transnistria, which means that Moldova has a deficit of about 600 MW of production of electric energy, in order to cover its consumption, relying on about 300 MW of local production,’’ Burduja said.     
The Romanian energy minister explained how Romania was providing assistance. ‘’How does Romania help? Nuclearelectrica concluded a contract on the delivery of 100 MW band across the Prut river. There are discussions also with OMV Petrom for 100 MW from the Brazi-based power station and with the Oltenia Energy Complex for another 100-200 MW. There are also quantities purchased by our brothers from beyond the Prut river on the OPCOM market. In all, the technical capacity of export of electric energy from Romania to Moldova is of 315 MW through the Isaccea-Vulcanesti power line (400 kV) and of 115 MW through those four lines of 110 kV which cross the Prut river. Moreover, Moldova got the enhancement of the cross-border capacity to 600 MW through a mechanism of daily allocation of the non-used capacities at other borders. This measure, confirmed by ENTSO-E, represents an important step for covering the demand,’’ the Romanian minister noted.      
To combat the ‘’toxic’’ propaganda, Burduja specified three things:  
 1. The exports of electric energy and natural gas are made from Romania to Moldova on commercial basis, in the conditions of law. 
 2. The support which we provide is only within the limit of the volumes available AFTER the covering of our own needs. 
 3. Yes, I consider that we have a moral duty to stand with our brothers from beyond the Prut river with everything possible.  
Moldova supplied its needed quantities of natural gas. ‘’There are commercial and emergency stocks of more than 70 million normal cubic meters in deposits from Romania. The technical capacity of export of natural gas through the Iasi-Ungheni interconnector is of 6.1 million cubic metres/day, which can cover the entire consumption between Prut and Dniester, including during the cold winter days,’’ Burduja also said.     
„Romania’s message is clear: brothers will always be brothers. Our task is to be together and together with Europe. And it will be like this. Forward, together! The 2025 year should bring us everybody only joy, good energy and the coming true of the dreams, along with the close people. I want for the Romanian energy system, more than ever, to continue making steps for our country’s energy independence. This means to never depend on the others,’’ Sebastian Burduja said.    
Starting from 1 January 2025, the Russian gas no longer transits Ukraine and is not delivered to Moldova either. Gazprom refused to fulfill its contractual obligations, under the pretext of a debt denied by the international audit. In these conditions, the Kuchurgan power station, the main provider of electric energy to the right bank of Dniester, no longer produces electricity. The Moldovan authorities accused Russia of energy blackmail. ‘’Russia uses energy as political weapon, turning the people from the Transnistrian region, which it controls through the illegally deployed army, into hostages,’’ PM Dorin Recean said.