On Friday, Moldova’s parliament voted to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector due to concerns that Russia might cut off natural gas supplies to the European Union candidate country this winter.
The state of emergency, which will begin on December 16 and endure for 60 days, was approved by a majority of vote in Moldova’s 101-seat assembly. If Moscow does not provide gas to the nation’s largest power plant, Kuciurgan, located in the separatist pro-Russian Transnistria area, a special commission will swiftly consider measures to mitigate immediate dangers. Prime Minister Dorin Recean of Moldova stated that his nation is in a unique position where Moscow may purposefully use energy flows as a weapon to cause instability and possibly deprive citizens of electricity and heat during the winter.
Gazprom, a major Russian energy company, supplies gas to the Kuciurgan power plant, which generates electricity for much of Moldova. The plant was privatiaed in 2004 by Transnistrian officials and later sold to a Russian state-owned company, although Moldova does not recognise the privatization. In late 2022, Moldova experienced significant power outages after Russian strikes hit neighbouring Ukraine, which is connected to the Kuciurgan plant. Prime Minister Recean stated that this winter should be the last time the country faces energy threats. He believes these crises are intentionally created to cause panic and chaos. In addition, Transnistria, which broke away following a brief conflict in 1992 and is not recognized by the majority of nations, proclaimed a state of emergency this week in case gas supplies are cut off to the area.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic of over 2.5 million people, was totally reliant on Moscow for natural gas when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. However, since then, it has worked to diversify and increase its energy sources. Romania has the resources to help Moldova “if the situation demands it,” according to Sebastian Burduja, the country’s energy minister, who stated late Thursday that it would be a duty in the face of eastern aggressions.
In October, Maia Sandu, Moldova’s pro-Western President, won a second term. A referendum also supported the country’s move toward joining the EU. Both events were affected by ongoing accusations of Russian interference aimed at stopping Moldova’s shift towards the West. Russia, however, denies being involved in any meddling.