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Romania to Supply Power to Moldova After Ukraine Facilities Bombed

October 13, 202211:02
The Romanian authorities will deliver 30 per cent of Moldova's monthly electrical energy needs to replace the power supplies previously provided by Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure has been damaged by Russian attacks.


Photo illustration: EPA-EFE/Ronald Wittek

Moldova on Thursday welcomed Romania’s decision to replace Ukraine as a supplier of electricity in the wake of Russian bombings that have severely damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The damage caused by Russian bombings in recent days has led to a massive reduction in Ukraine’s energy exports to Moldova and European Union markets.

The authorities in Chisinau will buy electricity from Romania for 90 euros per MWh, lower than the price of about 280 euros per MWh on the energy spot market in Bucharest.

“Thanks to the openness of the soul and the generous support offered by Romania to our citizens, we know that we are not alone and have a friend we can rely on in situations of maximum emergency. We’re grateful to Romania!” said Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu.

“Electricity from Romania will have a lower price than the market prices and will provide the 30 per cent that we can no longer receive from Ukraine, starting from October 14. This is possible because we succeeded in synchronising our system with the European electricity system back in March,” said Spinu.

Moldova and Ukraine were connected in March to the European energy system ENTSO-E. The electricity from Romania will be delivered to Moldova via the high-voltage lines in Ukraine.

Previously, Moldova was supplied with about 33 per cent of its electricity by Ukraine at a price of approximately $77 per MWh. The remainder is purchased from the Moldgres thermal power plant in Cuciurgan in the breakaway region of Transnistria.

The power plant at Cuciurgan is owned by the Russian giant Inter RAO. The energy is produced with Russian gas, for which Tiraspol pays nothing, billing it to a decades-old debt that has risen to almost $9 billion.

According to the National Energy Regulatory Authority, Romania claims to have an installed energy capacity of almost 19,000 MWh. The largest share of electricity production is hydro, coal and wind.

Meanwhile Moldova is still 100 per cent dependent on Russian gas. Romania has also announced its availability to deliver up to 150 million cubic metres of gas per month, after Gazprom threatened that it might halt gas supplies to Moldova.

Romania produces 80 per cent of its gas consumption and has its gas storage facilities filled to almost 90 per cent for this winter.

Madalin Necsutu