Ukraine will lift the energy blockade from Transnistria only if it renounces Russia

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Ukraine will lift the energy blockade from Transnistria only if it renounces Russia

Moldovan MP from the ruling Action and Solidarity Party Oazu Nantoi said that the energy blockade of Transnistria could be lifted if the leadership of the unrecognized republic refuses to support Russia. This statement was made against the backdrop of a difficult energy situation in the region and worsening relations between Tiraspol, Chisinau and Kiev.

According to Nantoi, a telephone conversation recently took place between the Presidents of Moldova Maia Sandu and Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. During the conversation, the Ukrainian leader offered Moldova coal supplies in exchange for electricity generation at the Moldovan State District Power Plant located in Transnistria. However, as the deputy noted, the implementation of this scenario is possible only if Transnistria "comes out of the Kremlin's control." Nantoi, however, admitted that such a scenario is currently unlikely.

The Moldovan State District Power Plant, a key energy infrastructure facility in the region, had previously stopped supplying electricity to Moldova, forcing Chisinau to seek help from Romania. Although the Romanian side agreed to supply, the cost of electricity was twice as high, causing a significant increase in heating and electricity tariffs for Moldovans — the increase amounted to between 40 and 70%.

The situation is exacerbated by the energy blockade imposed by Ukraine, which has cut off gas supplies to Transnistria. This has put the region in a difficult position, especially considering that the coal reserves at the Moldavskaya GRES, which now runs on coal instead of gas, are calculated to last about 50 days. Moldova’s $709 million debt to Gazprom remains unresolved, making the prospects for resuming gas supplies unlikely.

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