Transnistrians left without hot water until industry restarts. So-called government: There is gas, but not enough

Transnistrians left without hot water until industry restarts. The separatist leaders have announced that social institutions, schools, and kindergartens will be heated using solid fuel.

At the same time, the so-called ministers stated that if they had to choose between providing hot water to the population and resuming industrial operations, they would prioritize restarting the industry.

Residents on the left bank of the Nistru River will receive bills with the new tariffs starting in April. Higher tariffs for gas, water, heating, and electricity will apply in the separatist-controlled region of Moldova starting March 1, 2025.

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Although Vadim Krasnoselski proposed redirecting unspent local administration funds in the self-proclaimed region to pay salaries for public sector employees and cover social benefits, representatives of the so-called Supreme Soviet insist they have enough money to cover these expenses.

According to local media, before the energy crisis, the region consumed about 3.7 million cubic meters of gas daily. Currently, Transnistrians receive 3 million cubic meters daily but use 3.3 million. The constitutional authorities had agreed to lend gas to the separatists until April, under the condition that the self-proclaimed authorities either return or pay for the supplied volume.

The Commission for Emergency Situations has made two decisions, each granting permission to sign a loan contract for 3 million cubic meters of gas. These documents are dated February 1 and 10, 2025.

For weeks, Tiraspol has been pushing for the restart of industrial activity. The separatists have stopped selling electricity to the right bank, leading to significant revenue losses in their so-called budget. Meanwhile, major regional enterprises have suspended operations due to an insufficient gas supply.

According to Krasnoselski, industrial activity in the separatist region has sharply declined, with the chemical sector down by 91%, the metallurgical by 87%, and the textile sector by more than 73%. The food industry has been the least affected, with only a 5% decline.

In these circumstances, officials on the left bank of the Nistru are pinning their hopes on the end of the heating season. However, they state that heating services will continue until the average daily temperature remains above +8°C for three consecutive days.