Moldova Declares 60-Day Energy Emergency Amid Expected Russian Gas Cutoff via Ukraine

Dec 13, 2024, 12:31 PM

Moldova's parliament has declared a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector, starting on December 16, due to the anticipated halt of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine. This decision follows Ukraine's announcement that it will not renew its gas transit deal with Russia, which expires on December 31, 2024. The cessation of gas flow could lead to a humanitarian crisis and disrupt electricity supply in Moldova, particularly affecting the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, where the Kuciurgan power plant, reliant on Russian gas, is located. Moldova has been working to diversify its energy sources since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but the potential cutoff poses significant risks to the country's energy security. Prime Minister Dorin Recean has accused Russia of using energy as a weapon to destabilize Moldova and has emphasized the need to end energy blackmail by Moscow. The emergency measure passed with the support of 56 out of 101 members of parliament, and Transnistria also declared its own energy emergency earlier this week. Moldova's energy minister held talks with Gazprom's CEO, Alexei Miller, last month, but future gas supplies remain uncertain as Russia demands Moldova settle an estimated $709 million in debt for past natural gas deliveries.