“The Republic of Moldova is currently facing the worst energy crisis in its history and how we will get through the coming winter depends on all of us,” said President Maia Sandu at the beginning of the meeting of the Supreme Security Council (CSS), held on October 24 evening on the current threats to energy security.
According to the presidential press service, CSS members analyzed the situation created in the energy sector of the country where, from October 24, there was power shortage. This comes after the cessation of the sale of electricity by Ukraine, following the significant destruction of the country’s power system by Russia.
The representatives of the institutions responsible for the energy field, as well as those responsible for security, provided information on the situation on the energy market and described various scenarios of the evolution of things, including the risk that Gazprom would further reduce or completely stop the delivery of natural gas to the Republic of Moldova. The alternatives for providing electricity to the population and the economy were analyzed, as well as the measures required to reduce the impact of the energy crisis. The power shortage can be compensated by purchases on other markets, but at higher prices.
Maia Sandu asked the Government to come up with a set of actions, mandatory for all public institutions, for continuous monitoring and reduction of electricity consumption. Also, the government will estimate the impact of the increase in electricity prices on the population and the business environment, and will propose measures to reduce it. In particular, it is about the impact on the vulnerable layers of society, but also on businesses, whose competitiveness is affected by the increase in the prices of production factors.
The Government and the National Agency for Energy Regulation will intensify communication with citizens and the business environment regarding the necessity and methods of reducing energy consumption. Also, ANRE will revise the regulations regarding private investments in alternative sources of electricity. (Moldpres/Business World Magazine)
