Moldova is prepared for the winter season, as assured by President Maia Sandu, who stated that Energocom is building up reserves to ensure that citizens have access to natural gas at reasonable prices during the winter. The head of state is convinced that Russia can no longer use energy as a means of pressure against Moldova, stating that if Gazprom insists on the payment of non-existent debts, Chisinau will defend its position in international courts, as reported by IPN.
President Maia Sandu asserts that when it comes to natural gas, Moldova can no longer be blackmailed by Russia, through the Russian concern Gazorom, as the country now possesses the necessary infrastructure and mechanisms to purchase gas from the international market. The head of state emphasizes that Moldova has no intention of paying alleged non-existent debts claimed by Gazprom.
“Moldova is independent. Since 2021, we have developed mechanisms to purchase gas from elsewhere. Now, the Russian Federation cannot blackmail us by cutting off our gas supply. For any international disputes, we have conducted audits by internationally reputable companies, and we can confidently defend our position. Russia can no longer blackmail us by cutting off our gas supply; this was a means of blackmail for 30 years, and in just two years, we managed to break free from this blackmail and can negotiate from a different position. Even in 2021, without gas alternatives, we said NO to these debts, and we said they needed to be verified, and that was the right decision,” said Maia Sandu.
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The head of state further states that Moldova will achieve full energy independence when the high-voltage power lines Vulcănești-Chișinău and Bălți-Suceava are completed. The first is expected to be completed by 2025, while the aerial power line Bălți-Suceava is slated to become operational by 2028.
“We have gas reserves for the winter season, depending on how harsh the winter will be, but we are in a much better situation than in the fall of 2021. Regarding electricity, we still have vulnerabilities because we are only now building the interconnection line with Romania, which will be ready in two years. We started the construction process in 2021, as soon as we came to power, but it’s a lengthy project. We are currently in discussions with Romania, and I hope we will begin construction of the second line connecting us to the Romanian market and, consequently, the European market as soon as possible. Only then can we say that we have complete energy independence,” added the President of Moldova.
According to the project, the aerial power line Bălți-Suceava, with a nominal voltage of 400 kV, will have a total length of 138 km. 90 km of the line will be constructed on Romanian territory, and 48 km within Moldova.