Victor Chirilă: The support of Romania and the EU helps the Republic of Moldova overcome Russian energy blackmail
The Republic of Moldova successfully coped with significant energy pressure from the Russian Federation. With the support of Romania, which provided natural gas at a capped price, Moldova could ensure that the right bank of the Nistru had adequate electricity and heating. This was stated by Victor Chirilă, the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Bucharest, during an event focused on economic collaboration between the two countries.
The diplomat recently stated that the Republic of Moldova currently imports natural gas from the EU market, including from Romania, via the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău gas pipeline and the Transbalkan gas pipeline, as reported by digi24.ro.
Ambassador Victor Chirilă emphasized that without Romania's technical support, Moldova would not have had this alternative available today. He mentioned that Romania provided a respite, enabling the European Union to offer significant assistance, amounting to 310 million euros, of which 60 million euros will be allocated to the Transnistrian region. "At this point, we have addressed this crisis and the associated blackmail," he stated.
Chirilă highlighted the importance of investing in energy networks, particularly those connected to Romania, to establish more high-voltage lines. One such project, the Isaccea-Vulcănești-Chișinău line, is currently 50% completed, with hopes of operational status by the end of the year. This line will allow for direct electricity imports from Romania, thereby avoiding reliance on Ukraine, which is currently affected by war, and the Transnistrian region, which may close this high-voltage line at any time.
The Republic of Moldova is also exploring the construction of two new high-voltage lines: Bălți-Suceava and Strășeni-Gutinaș. Funding for the Bălți-Suceava project is already available, said Ambassador Chirilă. "Yesterday, an agreement was signed in which the European Union offered a 15 million euro grant. However, the total need is estimated at 77 million euros, with an additional 30 million euros being provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development," he explained.
Chirilă recalled that a draft agreement, currently under consideration by both governments, involves a Romanian consortium taking over the electricity distribution networks in northern Moldova. Additionally, he mentioned that Romania could also invest in other sectors of Moldova, such as manufacturing, IT, and the food industry.
He pointed out an initiative to establish a guarantee fund for Romanian investments in the Republic of Moldova, although budgetary and fiscal challenges within Romania delayed its implementation. Subsequently, the idea was proposed to involve Germany and the European Union in this project. "To encourage investments in the Republic of Moldova, which is considered a high-risk area due to the war in Ukraine, establishing such an investment guarantee fund is essential," Ambassador Victor Chirilă concluded.
