Moldova is going through a major energy crisis and risks being left without gas and electricity this winter due to the war in Ukraine. For Moldovan consumers, the gas rate has increased sixfold over the past year and is twice as high as in Romania. The situation with electricity is equally serious. This was stated by President Maia Sandu during the international conference “Parliamentary women of Romania and the promotion of gender equality as a national commitment”, organized by the Romanian Parliament.

According to the Moldovan president, with Russia constantly attacking the Ukrainian energy grid, with Gazprom halving gas supplies to Moldova, and with electricity supplies from the left bank of the Nistru being uncertain for the next month, providing the country with electricity is a daily challenge. “Even though we are making serious efforts to save and the Government in Chisinau is trying to help low-income people, the monthly utility bill of an average Moldovan household now makes up 70-75% of its income. This energy vulnerability creates room for political blackmail and interference in our democracy, our domestic and foreign policies”, said Sandu.

She added that Moldova wants to be a space of freedom and peace. Moldova is already contributing to a stronger and more united Europe by actively participating in mitigating the effects of the war. The country, with few resources, joined the free world’s relief efforts. “We have opened our homes for all Ukrainian refugees and have faced challenges that our state was not prepared for”, concluded the president.