The Ministry of Energy proposes 45 measures to ensure the security of energy supply the coming winter, including the voluntary reduction of natural gas consumption by 15 percent, according to the recommendations of the European Union, and the promotion of the use of alternative fuels, IPN reports.
According to the plan proposed by the Ministry, by mid-November we will have natural gas security stocks in the volume of 15% of the average annual consumption. The state reserves of fuel oil and coal will be replenished up to the maximum level projected, although the supply of fuel oil to Termoelectrica is not planned.
The plan also provides for the creation and maintenance of reserve fuel stocks by sugar factories, examination and maintenance of electric generators in public institutions and equipment with generators of institutions that do not have such. The institutions equipped with special boilers will be able to use solid biofuel.
The preparations for the winter season will be coordinated and monitored by a special governmental commission.
The winter plan envisions two scenarios of behavior of the Russian giant Gazprom after the expiration of the contract for the transit of natural gas via Ukraine, on January 1, 2025. One of the scenarios presumes that the Russian side will look for alternative routes to supply gas to the Transnistrian region, given Gazprom’s contractual obligations to Moldovagaz. In this situation, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova will not obstruct the further delivery of natural gas by Moldovagaz to Tiraspoltransgaz.
Under the second scenario, if Gazprom stops natural gas supplies, the gradual application of several measures to mitigate the impact of this decision will be examined. Even if Gazprom stops supplying natural gas, the Ministry estimates that there will be no shortage of natural gas for consumers on the right bank and there will be no need to disconnect interruptible customers. If necessary, Energocom could ensure the supply of the necessary natural gas to protected/vulnerable categories of consumers in the Transnistrian region through Tiraspoltransgaz, against an appropriate payment for the costs of purchasing natural gas.
Even if the existing natural gas transmission infrastructure allows ensuring the transportation of gas needed to cover the consumption of the Republic of Moldova (for both banks of the Nistru), there are risks regarding the ability of consumers on the left bank to purchase natural gas at market prices, the plan warns.
At the same time, in order to provide electricity to the right bank of the Nistru in the pessimistic scenario, it will be necessary to increase the import of energy from the EU countries and the commercial capacity at the Romania-Republic of Moldova border, in the context of the limited capacity allocated by ENTSO-E for the UA/MD block to cover the import needs for the consumption of the right bank from Romania or other EU countries. Also, other power lines with a voltage of 110 kV would be activated.
