No energy crisis this winter, authorities say

77% of the population’s coal demand for the cold season was accumulated in Moldova by October 1. The information has been presented on Thursday, at the meeting of the Government Committee on Preparations for the Cold Season, by the head of the Public Procurement Agency Ion Turcan. According to him, the necessities for the heating season were estimated at 58,280 tonnes of coal. The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure promises that this year the energy system and the population will not face a natural gas crisis, given that Tocuz-Cainari gas main has been built and put into the operation. According to Minister Vladimir Antosii, the energy system has undergone capital repairs, so that the energy distribution system is currently in a better state than it was last year. Antosii asserts that Moldova has two stable sources of energy and a reserve Power Plant in Kuciurgan. 265 living blocks have been restored this year, which is 71% from the planned level. Deputy Director of the Construction and Territorial Development Agency, Mihai Solcan stated on Thursday that MDL 33 mln have been allocated for repairs of living blocks, 27 mln being used in Chisinau. Only MDL 4 mln have been spent in the raions, which is insufficient in Solcan’s opinion. Only 52% of the living blocks in Chisinau are allowed to be connected to the heating system. However in the case of 70% of them, the supplier identified deficiencies which are to be eliminated in order to connect these blocks, Solcan said. The Agency’s data show that this year the number of autonomous heating systems installed in apartments has increased. Of the total 7,100 for the country, 4,900 are installed in Chisinau.