Romanian energy minister says Moldova to have priority access to natural gas stored in Romania

Chisinau, 12 December /MOLDPRES/ - Romania will help Moldova overcome an eventual energy crisis, if the Russian giant Gazprom will no longer deliver natural gas. Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja has given assurances to this effect. The Romanian official said that an action plan had been launched, which provided priority access for Moldova to gas stored in Romania.   
Romania will support Moldova against the energy blackmail  
Sebastian Burduja said that Romania was prepared for winter and had enough resources to support Moldova. ‘’Romania has a duty, Europe has a duty not to abandon Moldova and Ukraine before the aggressions coming from the East, either in form of tanks or through the barbarian blackmail in the energy sector,’’ Burduja wrote on his Facebook account.  
„Our friends from beyond the Prut river need the help of Romania, before the huge pressure exerted by Russia as regards the access to energy. Nothing is worse than to be dependent on those who use their resources not for development, not to help, but as a weapon of blackmail.  Moldova entered state of emergency in the energy sector and just as we have done so far, not only based on the agreements which our countries have, but on more things which unite and will always unite us, we will be with Chisinau,’’ the Romanian minister added.     
The Bucharest authorities launched an action plan
The Romanian official said that Romania’s Energy Ministry closely cooperated with the competent authorities of Moldova and at the European level, in order to manage the situation, if Gazprom might cease the deliveries of natural gas. The Romanian authorities, according to Burduja, launched an action plan. It provides for four principal actions:    
1. Dialogue between Romanian and Moldovan companies for the procurement of electric energy, if needed, on commercial basis.  
 2. Identification of technical solutions for the supply with electric energy through the already existing power lines, including the lines 110 kV which cross the Prut river. 
 3. The prioritization of Moldova’s access to the gas stored in Romania, if there will be a crisis beyond the Prut river, as far as it is available, following the provision of the domestic consumption.
 4. Enhancement of the capacities of operational balancing for gas.
Emergency state is to be established in Moldova
Emergency state is to be established in Moldova for a period of 60 days, starting from 16 December. The decision is to be taken by Moldova’s parliament, at a proposal by the government.  
„The measure is necessary, in the context of the major risks to the energy security of Moldova and eventual humanitarian effects on the left bank of Dniester, triggered by the uncertainty as regards the delivery of natural gas by Gazprom to the Transnistrian region, especially in the context of the attacks against the energy infrastructure in Ukraine,’’ the government said.   
According to the report of the Commission for Emergency Situations (CSE), for the moment, the capacity of import of the electric energy to our country is limited to 315 MW through interconnection with Romania, which is insufficient to cover the needs during the peak hours. The vulnerability is pronounced by the fact that the Isaccea-Vulcanesti interconnection power line crosses the territory of Ukraine, which makes it susceptible to interruptions in case of attacks against the energy infrastructure in the neighbour country.  
At the same time, in the lack of natural gas from Gazprom, the Kuchurgan power station (MGRES) will not be able to provide the production necessary in the same conditions. Thus, even in the conditions that the emerged deficit of electric energy will be covered all over the country, its price will be significantly affected, especially for the residents on the left bank of Dniester.