Gas supply situation still difficult in some settlements, with students to continue vacationing

The situation created by the natural gas crisis remains difficult in some of the country’s settlements, with the students to continue their winter vacation. Such conclusions were made at the meeting of the National Commission for Emergencies called on Sunday, January 11, by Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanyi. According to a communiqué from the Government’s press service, quoted by Info-Prim Neo, the meeting was attended by President Vladimir Voronin. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon said that the Moldovan consumers are adequately supplied with natural gas. Recently, Ukraine started to supply gas through the pipeline in Alexeevka and this allowed increasing pressure in the pipe that supplies gas to Ungheni, where the situation was more difficult on Saturday. According to Dodon, the situation remains difficult in the Transnistrian region, where practically all the settlements remained without gas. Fourteen villages in Stefan Voda, Causeni, Anenii Noi and Dubasari districts experience the same situation. Igor Dodon said that the existent gas stores would be enough for another 24 hours as the industrial companies started to save gas, while the thermoelectric plants shifted to crude oil. The First Deputy Prime Minister also said that Russia declared the transportation of gas to the European countries would be resumed on Sunday evening, after European experts arrive at the gas metering points in Ukraine. The director of SA Termocom Dionisie Antocel informed that the heat supplier works according to a stable though gas-saving schedule. The heat supply in the municipality of Chisinau is 60% insured. Minister of Local Public Administration Valentin Guznac and the head of the Department for Emergencies Mihail Harabagiu spoke about the steps taken to overcome the difficulties in providing heat to Ungheni, Causeni and Stefan Voda districts and to a number of settlements in Transnistria. Vladimir Voronin said that though Moldova does not have its own natural gas reserves, the authorities made everything possible to manage the crisis situation. He demanded that the persons in charge continue stepping up efforts to overcome the difficulties and insure the proper functioning of the heating system. He stressed the importance of taking measures to avoid accidents when the gas supply to Moldova is resumed. Vladimir Voronin also underlined the necessity of replenishing the state reserves of crude oil and coal and of examine the possibility of creating natural gas stores that could be used in emergencies. The head of state backed the proposal to extend students’ winter vacations until January 15 as time will be needed to insure appropriate studying conditions in all the pre-university education institutions.