Economic

No Russian gas in 2025? The Republic of Moldova must prepare for this scenario, experts warn

Citizens and authorities in the Republic of Moldova must prepare for the worst-case scenario, in which from January 1, 2025, Russian gas will no longer be able to reach the Republic of Moldova, transiting Ukraine, say energy experts. Also, they state that in the current cold season, there is no longer a risk that our country will be left without energy resources, but their costs could be high.

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Sursa: digi24

The Republic of Moldova, despite what we see today, is in a much better energy security situation than three years ago, and currently, there is discussion about the possibility of supplying electricity from Romania or, in general, from the European market and financial support for consumers, said the energy expert from Expert Forum Bucharest, Otilia Nuțu.

According to her, it is important to understand that if the supply of natural gas to the Transnistrian region is interrupted, the right bank can buy electricity and benefit from the support of the European Commission. However, the problem of consumers on the left bank of the Nistru is valid.

"That gas, if it is not given for free from Gazprom, as it has been so far, artificially maintaining the illusion of well-being, then it will have to be bought from somewhere. I do not think that there will be a problem that someone from Europe will give free gas to Cuciurgan. So what will happen? There will be the purchase of electricity from somewhere other than Cuciurgan, gas and electricity supply for both the right bank and the left bank from the European markets and support from the European Commission to mitigate the price shock on households and vulnerable consumers. Of course, these things are very expensive." The situation this winter is difficult, and the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova must be prepared to face the most complicated scenario, said the founder of the Romanian Energy Center, Eugenia Gusilov.

"What the population of the Republic of Moldova must understand is that the era of cheap gas and electricity is over and these efforts must be made now. It will not be easy, but Moldova will be helped and the authorities in Chisinau will seek additional support from international partners to successfully pass this test. Because it is a test, it is a difficult ordeal. On January 1, 2025, the good thing is that there are solutions, that is, technically you can bring electricity from elsewhere, you can bring gas from elsewhere, but not at the price at which, for example, Moldova used to get electricity from the transnistrian region. I mean, that cheap price of electricity, I think people need to get used to the idea that it will no longer be."

We remind you that, despite the war, Russian gas continues to transit Ukraine to reach Europe thanks to the current five-year contract, signed at the end of 2019. Ukraine has already announced that it will not start negotiations with Russia on the extension of this agreement, which expires at the end of 2024, but there is no official decision in this regard for now.

The authorities in Chisinau have prepared several scenarios for the cold period of the year, in case, from January 1, 2025, Russian gas will no longer reach the Republic of Moldova, transiting Ukraine. This was announced by the Minister of Energy, Victor Parlicov. According to him, in the most unfavourable scenario, in which the left bank of the Nistru will no longer receive natural gas from Russia, our country will be forced to increase electricity imports from Romania and ban exports of renewable energy in order to ensure internal security.

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