Expert Victor Parlicov, former Minister of Energy, does not rule out the possibility that the scenario of resumption of gas supplies by Gazprom for the left bank of the Nistru will be restored. For this reason, he wants to hear a clear position from the Moldovan authorities, whether they agree or not with such a scenario and whether they are ready to take the Transnistrian region out of dependence on Russian gas. In Victor Parlicov's opinion, the rest of the steps in the reintegration process depend on the answer to this question. The issue was developed in a public debate titled “Crisis in the Transnistrian region – opportunity for reintegration".
The former energy minister said that it is for the first time in 30 years that there is insufficient natural gas and electricity on the left bank of the Nistru, while the right bank has these resources. The production of renewable energy increased considerably. For the first time since the declaration of the state's independence, 20% of the electricity comes from renewable resources and in summer this indicator is expected to reach 40%.
Victor Parlicov said that, until recently, the scenario according to which Gazprom would throw the Transnistrian region into chaos was seen as less possible. Although it was treated more skeptically, Russia nevertheless opted for this scenario. All this in the conditions in which there was no backup plan on the left bank. Those in Tiraspol decided to wait for a few weeks, being sure that gas supplies from Russia will be resumed, and, probably, the resumption of deliveries by Gazprom was awaited in Chisinau as well.
The expert believes that the scenario of resumption of supplies by Russia is still being examined, including by Moscow. Thus, in a crisis situation when no one manages to identify a solution, the "good guy" comes to give humanitarian gas to the region. As a result, things are starting to return to normality. But, on the right bank, the people continue to pay high electricity charges and on this note they are going towards the parliamentary elections, on a note in which internal tensions are increasing.
In his opinion, if Gazprom, unilaterally, did not comply with the contract, invoking the fact that Moldova does not pay for the supplied gas, this reason should be used to get the region out of this dependence on gas. Only in this way, all the other processes will start moving. Today, a part of the region's economy can be maintained because there are enterprises capable of paying for energy at market prices. Thus, they will continue to operate, provide jobs, etc.
According to Victor Parlicov, it is necessary to reduce the energy dependence of the right bank on the infrastructure of the region. Then, this model, according to which the left bank de facto benefits from free gas and the region can be thus financed and the Russian Federation can use it for its purposes, should be gradually rejected.
"The question is, do we have today a clear view on the steps that need to be taken for this process to take place?" said the ex-minister.
The public debate entitled "Crisis in the Transnistrian region – an opportunity for reintegration" was staged as part of the project "IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.
