In the crisis situation witnessed in the Transnistrian region, Chisinau must play a proactive role, former minister of energy Victor Parlicov stated in a public debate centering on the crisis in the eastern region of Moldova. According to him, the situation in the energy sector of the right bank has changed significantly since 2022, when dependence on the energy infrastructure on the left bank of the Nistru was considerably reduced.
Ex-minister Parlicov said that for the first time in the country's history, the right bank of the Nistru River has heat, electricity and gas independently of the infrastructure of the Transnistrian region. In contrast, the left bank, which was traditionally an electricity supplier, is facing a difficult situation in which the population suffers due to the lack of energy resources.
"Since 2022, the situation has changed radically and we, technically, are no longer so dependent on the infrastructure of the left bank of the Nistru. For the first time in the history of the Republic of Moldova, on the right bank there is heat, power and gas, while the people on the left bank of the Nistru freezes. Something like this has never been witnessed before. An opposite situation was witnessed," said Victor Parlicov.
The former minister explained that Chisinau has two main options in this situation: either to maintain the state of affairs in the energy sector on the left bank of the Nistru, or to put an end to this dependence. He drew attention to the fact that the supplies of energy resources to the Transnistrian region are based on a contract with Moldovagaz in which the Government in Chisinau holds a blocking package.
"The decision for the people on the left bank of the Nistru to freeze for at least a month or two was necessary because those in Russia found themselves in a stupid situation in which they have to invent a reason for changing the rules of the game. They changed the rules of the game once again in 2022, when they limited supplies. We have only two options: either we maintain the status quo, allow free gas to reach the Transnistrian region, or we do not allow this. Let's not forget that these deliveries are made on the basis of a contract with Moldovagaz, and in Moldovagaz there is a holding of the Government in Chisinau, which has a blocking package," explained Victor Parlicov.
He highlighted that, in the current context, it is essential to develop electricity generation capacities on the right bank, and the state of emergency declared in the energy sector offers the opportunity to speed up these initiatives.
"Certainly, Chisinau should have played a more proactive role. We must have our own position. We must tell them that the situation with the supply of free gas to the left bank of the Nistru has an end. If we don't have a vision in this regard, it means that we have to develop it. This whole situation was maintained based on the idea that Chisinau was trying to maintain stability on the left bank of the Nistru. What kind of stability can we talk about if the situation can explode at any time and has shown that it is exploding? Especially since, during the period of the CES (Commission for Emergency Situations, e.n.), many things can be rushed. Now it is very important to increase the electricity generation capacities on the right bank and the CES allows the acceleration of these processes," said the former minister of energy.
The public debate entitled "Fish tail" of the crisis in the eastern region of Moldova" was staged as part of the series of debates "Developing political culture through public debates". IPN Agency implements the project with support from the German "Hanns Seidel" Foundation.
