Moldova will buy electric power mainly from Cuchurgan plant next year

As from January 1, 2009 Moldova will be supplied with electric power principally by the Cuchurgan power plant situated on the left bank of the Nistru, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Tudor Copaci said. The contract signed by Energocom with the power plant’s owner, Russia’s RAO UES, is valid until 2010. Currently, Moldova is supplied with power by Ukraine. The power is imported also by Energocom SA. “By June 2009, when the contract signed with Ukraine expires, the Cuchurgan plant will supply electricity at practically the same price as that for Ukrainian power. Anyway, the tariffs for end-users will not be raised until the end of next June,” Copaci said. The deputy minister also said that Energocom will purchase 200 – 220 million kWh of power a month from the Cuchurgan plant. Moldova needs 250 kWh of power a month. A smaller quantity of power will be further imported from Ukraine so as to balance consumption. The tariff for end-users after June next year will be calculated by the National Agency for Energy Regulation according to the existent methodology.