Moldova is switching from commercial contracts for electricity to emergency contracts

Over the past 24 hours, electricity consumption in the Republic of Moldova has been fully covered under commercial contracts, without the need to use emergency contracts. This was announced today, December 31, by Moldelectrica.

"Daily consumption was supported by a diversified contribution of production and import sources, reflecting the necessary balance between domestic producers and external sources," the supplier notes.

They clarified that, on average, the consumption curve was provided by Moldavian GRES in Transnistria — 50.62%, as well as by local companies such as Termoelectrica — 20.69%, CET-Nord — 4%, Costesti hydroelectric power station — 0.38%. The share of renewable energy amounted to 2.14%; CHP sugar factories — 0.3%. Balance of electricity imports (Moldova/Ukraine/Romania) amounted to 21.87%.

Energocom JSC announced that in January 2025, the demand for electricity consumption (the right bank of the Dniester River) will be met by local production and imports from Romania.

Thus, thermal power plants in Chisinau and Balti will provide about 28% of consumption. Another 10% will be renewable energy sources. The remaining 62% of the required electricity will be imported from Romania. The price is still unknown, but it will be significantly higher than the cost of energy from MoldGRES and will affect tariffs. Energocom assured that they would try to find the best contracts.

Recall, the Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom officially announced the termination of gas supplies to Moldova from January 1 due to non-fulfillment by Chisinau of debt obligations. Without gas, MoldGRES will switch to coal, which will allow for about a month to meet the humanitarian needs of Pridnestrovie in electricity. Unlike the RM, Tiraspol has no reserves of blue fuel for the winter period. A state of emergency has been declared in the PMR and Moldova.

As EADaily reported, the adviser to the director of the Moldovan state-owned enterprise Energocom, Victor Bynzar, recently confirmed that the contract with MoldGRES (the Iter RAO enterprise provided up to 90% of the needs RM in electricity at a price of $ 66 per MW · h.) has not been extended.

"We have been notified that without confidence in the availability of gas for electricity production, they cannot sign a new contract. From January 1, the station will stop supplying electricity to the right bank of the Dniester," said Bynzar.