Expert Alexandr Makuhin states that there are currently no clear signs or concrete answers for resolving the energy crisis. Meanwhile, the energy issue persists and, if unresolved, risks escalating into humanitarian, social, and financial crises. Although Moldova has already faced a humanitarian crisis following the onset of the war in Ukraine, it is evident that the situation involving residents on the left bank of the Nistru River is far more complex, said Alexandr Makuhin, a permanent expert for the project, during the public debate "The Energy System of Moldova Between Economy and Politics. The Energy Crisis as a Factor of Social Conflict and Its Possible Solutions", organized by IPN Press Agency.
The expert recalled that Energy Minister Victor Parlicov recently visited Russia, met with the head of the Russian company Gazprom, and returned with the statement that there is another scenario involving the use of the Trans-Balkan pipeline. "We fully understand why Ukraine wants nothing to do with Gazprom - it would be strange if it did, especially after Russian military strikes on its energy systems and humanitarian facilities. However, it is unclear to me why Ukraine, hypothetically from January 1, 2025, would not want to transport gas to the Transnistrian region but would agree to transport it through the Trans-Balkan pipeline", Makuhin said.
Addressing the humanitarian crisis, the expert noted that Moldova faced such a challenge after Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, hosting 120,000 refugees during that period. While the situation was extremely difficult, the country received significant support from international donors - assistance on an unprecedented scale. "It is clear that a potential crisis involving people living on the left bank of the Nistru River, citizens of Moldova, is much more complex, and, at present, I do not sense that there is any solution to this crisis," said Alexandr Makuhin.
The expert believes the core issue lies in "the lack of routine planning skills," which would not only address the current problem but also create precise scenarios outlining the direction Moldova is heading and how these scenarios would develop step by step. The second shortfall, he added, is the failure to recognize management deficiencies. Over time, the accumulation of small errors results in an immobilized system riddled with mismanagement. This transforms into a "manual control system," where crises are hastily addressed with improvised measures, lacking any systemic approach. "As long as this issue remains unresolved, the country risks transitioning from an energy crisis to something worse", concluded Alexandr Makuhin.
The public debate on "The Energy System of Moldova Between Economy and Politics. The Energy Crisis as a Factor of Social Conflict and Its Possible Solutions" was organized as part of the project "IPN Press Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova," funded by IMS.
