As of August 1, the Chisinau Trolleybus Company owed 12 million lei in unpaid bills and taxes. This is significantly less that what it owed on January 1, when the company had a debt of 28 million lei. It has paid its electricity bills and workers’ salaries, but other bills and taxes remain unpaid.

Reporting at the City Hall today, director Dorin Ciornii said the company had an income of 113 million lei in the first seven months, compared to 106 million lei in the similar period last year. He explained the larger income and the smaller debt on improved financial discipline and internal inspection.

A further step to cut costs was the company starting to use the M-tender platform for procurement purposes. For example, it managed to find a provider that offers printing services for monthly tickets at more than a third of the previous cost, and with more security features, too.

As concerns assembly operations, Butucel said the company rolled out five off-wire, autonomous trolleybuses this May, now running from the central square to the suburban town of Singera and back. It is planned to assemble twenty more trolleybuses by the end of the year, including fifteen autonomous ones. All will be equipped with air conditioning. Chisinau’s first five AC-equipped trolleybuses will be introduced in September.

Butucel also complained that 40% of the overhead wires need replacement. Their usual lifespan is 17 years, but the city has wires as old as from 1949.

The company operates 361 trolleybuses, stationed and maintained at three depots, and employs 2,500 people.