Breakaway Transnistria region has enough electricity to produce food only – Reuters

The suspension of Russian gas supplies to the unrecognised republic of Transnistria in Moldova has resulted in the closure of all industrial facilities except those involved in food production.

Source: Reuters, citing a local official

Details: The region, home to approximately 450,000 people, was severely affected immediately after Russian gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine were cut off on Wednesday.

"All industrial enterprises are idle, with the exception of those engaged in food production – that is, directly ensuring food security for Transdniestria (Transnistria)," Sergei Obolonik, first deputy prime minister of the region, told a local news channel.

"It is too early to judge how the situation will develop. ... The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up."

European gas buyers, such as Slovakia and Austria, have prepared for the cessation of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine by securing alternative sources. However, Transnistria – despite its close ties to Moscow and the presence of 1,500 Russian troops – finds itself in a dire situation.

On Wednesday, a local energy company halted heating and hot water services to households, advising families to stay warm in a single room, cover windows with curtains or blankets and rely on electric heaters.

Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky stated that the region's gas reserves are expected to last approximately 10 days under limited use in the north and twice as long in the south. He also noted that the region's main power plant had transitioned from gas to coal and would be capable of supplying electricity to residents throughout January and February.

Russia previously supplied around 2 billion cubic metres of gas annually to Transnistria, including to its power plant, which also provided electricity to the rest of Moldova. Currently, Moldova imports over 60% of its electricity from neighbouring Romania.

Background:

• Transnistria cut off heating and hot water supplies to households after gas supplies to Europe from Russia via Ukraine were stopped.
• On 29 December 2024, the authorities of Transnistria, a separatist region of Moldova, cut off gas supplies to several state institutions due to the end of an agreement that allowed the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.
• Russia's Gazprom announced it would stop supplying gas to Moldova's Transnistria effective 1 January 2025 due to "failure to fulfil payment obligations".
• Moldovan energy companies Moldovagaz and Energocom are ready to assist Transnistria's Tiraspoltransgaz in organising gas purchases on any European platform on market conditions.

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