Dorin Chirtoaca: Heat was halted by instruction, by instruction will it resume

Chisinau's mayor Dorin Chirtoaca calls it a political move the stated initiative of the Government to get involved in seeking for a solution for the heat crisis in the capital. The mayor has specified he was expecting such a gesture. “The heat supply was halted at someone's instruction, and also by instruction will it resume,” Dorin Chirtoaca is quoted by Info-Prim Neo as saying. The mayor says “someone wants to use this discretionary powers it acquired in this conjuncture.” He says a number of international bodies consider as relevant the way chosen by the municipality in solving the heat problem, as well as the moves of the Chisinau local administration in this regard. He made the statements Tuesday at a reunion with the representatives of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, of the European Commission, of the Economy Ministry and of the National Energy Regulator. Although invited, the officials of Moldovagaz and Termocom did not show up. According to the mayor, the sides agreed the heat supply must resume in Chisinau and to establish a tariff to cover the costs of producing and distributing the thermal water. The mayor says the tariff of 822 lei/Gcal, asked for by heat supplier Termocom, is not a solution. In a press release on November 11, the Moldovan Cabinet calls the situation in Chisinau “an imminent humanitarian crisis”, in which “the Government cannot be a passive observer”. “An extraordinary complex of organizational and financial measures has been elaborated, which will allow the provision of the entire city with heat starting tomorrow, 12 November 2008”, the communique reads.