The Chisinau Electric Transport Company is to buy a new lot of 1,000 tires for trolleybuses. The issue was discussed in the December 11 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions as an emergency one in winter. On the other hand, the company’s administration said it is actually a planned acquisition to fill the reserves as the tires of the over 360 trolleybuses running on routes are in a good state, IPN reports.

Acting head of the Public Transport and Communications Division Vitalie Butucel said the problem was reported last weekend. “We requested Mister Morgoci, together with the acting mayor, to take all the measures and fix the given problem as this is within his remit. He indeed informed us that they do not have funds in the last moment. From our perspective, the operator should be take steps beforehand to get ready for winter as all the necessary funding was allocated from the budget,” stated Vitalie Butucel, noting that about 400 tires are needed.

Contacted by IPN, Chisinau Electric Transport Company director Gheorghe Morgoci said the company purchases tires each year – in May and in December. New tires are bought not when the used tires become worn-out, but ahead of time. A contract was already signed with the Belarusian factory and they are now purchasing foreign currency to make the payments. When the tires are delivered to Chisinau, they will be stored and will be used when worn-out tires need to be replaced.

Gheorghe Morgoci noted that the trolleybus tires are changed once a year on average.