The energy threats are the biggest risk to Moldova’s security, said the director of the Security and Intelligence Service Alexandru Musteață. According to him, the international experts anticipate new massive shelling of elements of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and Moldova can experience blackouts as a result. The risks to the security of natural gas transmission networks are lower than those to the supply of electricity, IPN reports.
The SIS head said the war in Ukraine and its effects remain the most serious challenges to Moldova’s security. The risks that the war will escalate and Moldova will be engaged in the war are reduced as the Ukrainian army achieves important victories on the battlefield.
“The frontline is now beyond the Dnieper River. Our estimates and the estimates of international experts show the war will be local in character in winter and will remain in the current arena, with not big moves to and fro, but rather dynamic. But the tactic of massive shelling of Ukraine will be kept,” Alexandru Musteață stated in the program “Reflection Points” on Vocea Basarabiei station.
However, according to the SIS head, Moldova’s energy security is now under direct threat due to Russia’s bombardments. Moldova’s natural gas supplies stored in Ukraine and the natural gas networks are less exposed than the electricity infrastructure.
“We constantly see the effects of the war against our security, not only in terms of the conventional war and the missiles that flied above the Republic of Moldova or fell on our territory, but also because the risk that more rockets will fall persists. According to our estimates, more massive strikes will follow and will yet cause power outages. A period of several hours will be every time needed for restoring the supply of power. The storage reservoirs in Ukraine where the Republic of Moldova keeps natural gas are not situated close to the war zone. The gas transmission networks are different from the electricity infrastructure as they are under the ground and are therefore safer. There is not full safety, but the natural gas infrastructure is less vulnerable. Currently, the energy risk for the Republic of Moldova is the biggest,” stated Alexandru Musteață.
The Moldovan authorities warned the citizens that owing to possible massive missile attacks by Russia against Ukraine in the immediate period, Moldovan can experience blackouts.
