Moldova managed to do almost nothing in the energy sector during 25 years of Independence, with small exceptions. It remained vulnerable and dependent on the suppliers from the East, exactly how it was before the Independence. In an article published by IPN, the ex-director of the National Agency for Energy Regulation Victor Parlicov says the greatest accomplishment in the energy sector was achieved when Vladimir Voronin was President of Moldova, when the construction of the Tocuz-Mereni gas pipeline was forced.
According to him, by this gas pipeline, the authorities of the Transnistrian region were deprived of the possibility of disconnecting the gas for Chisinau whenever they wanted. When this pipeline was built, Chisinau started to be supplied with gas directly from the transit gas pipeline. “But this is our only major accomplishment in the energy sector,” stated the expert.
As regards the supply with electricity, the ex-director said that Moldova remains as vulnerable as in the 1990s. Six of the seven power lines through which Moldova is connected to the Ukrainian electrical energy system go through the Transnistrian region. Two stop there and do not cross the Nistru, while four are connected with the Dnestrovsk thermoelectric plant. Only one line of the seven can supply electric power to the right bank by bypassing the Transnistrian region. The capacity of this line is surely insufficient for supplying the whole Moldova with power.
To eliminate the energy dependence, society must know about these connections and possible intercalations with the Transnistrian conflict, our energy vulnerabilities and the corruption of the elites in Chisinau. “Only by the positive pressure of society, can we make our decision-makers, our elites, to take serious measures and start to work seriously and not to fuel us with statements, plants, strategies and all kinds of declarations without content,” stated Victor Parlicov.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency decided to depict the portrait of the current Republic of Moldova. For the purpose, it provoked a number of people, including state officials, politicians, businessmen, civil rights activists and persons without posts and titles, but who have what to say. The generic picture is called “Thoughts about and for Moldova”. The articles started to be published on July 18.
