Energocom Head: Moldova Is Ready for New Cold Season

Our country is preparing for the cold season and citizens will have access to energy resources, assured Victor Binzari, director of Energocom. The assurances were made despite the fact that the current agreement on the transit of natural gas from Gazprom through Ukraine, which directly affects our country, expires on 1 January, radiomoldova.md wrote. At the same time, representatives of the energy sector say that there are no prerequisites for an increase in electricity and natural gas tariffs. Currently, our country cooperates with at least 10 foreign companies, from which it can purchase natural gas, said Victor Binzari, director of Energocom. “Obviously, the situation will be a little bit more difficult, but we believe we will cope because, as I said, our relations, the contracts that are in place at the moment, allow us to receive more batches of gas, from several sources, and I think this will help us overcome any crisis. As far as electricity is concerned, I do not see any prerequisites for a price increase; as for natural gas, I think colleagues from Moldovagaz know better. Although we see a slight increase in prices, let us hope that in the near future, when the volumes needed for consumption during the cold season will be much higher, the price will be lower than expected, which means that no changes in tariffs will be needed,” Victor Binzari said. Termoelectrica is ready for the heating season by 70-80%, the company’s interim director Iurie Razlovan said. At the same time, he did not rule out the use of fuel oil in extreme cases. “We will deliver heat-bearing agent, we will generate electricity. In case any shortcomings are detected, we are ready to intervene as soon as possible. Besides, theoretically, although we cannot know for sure, we believe that the tariff is balanced and stable at the moment,” Iurie Razlovan states. And CET Nord’s interim CEO Marian Brinza assures that the company is ready for the new cold season. “The cost of a gigacalorie in Balti is 2245 lei. At the moment, we do not have a clear certainty about what the next tariff will be, as we are going to buy more natural gas next season,” Marian Brinza said. Natural gas supplies to the left bank of the Dniester depend on cooperation with Gazprom, says Watchdog Community expert Eugen Muravschi. “We must have a scenario in which we are ready to provide the Transnistrian region with gas and electricity in case Russia literally turns off the tap. We have legal and technical possibilities to provide the Transnistrian region with the necessary energy resources. The problem is that the regime there does not pay for gas, their tariffs are very low. If I remember correctly, electricity tariffs are about 4 times lower, gas tariffs are about 9 times lower, and the population there will not be able to pay market tariffs. Accordingly, we will have to look for a solution,” Eugen Muravschi said. Earlier, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said that Russian gas could reach the Transnistrian region even after the agreement on gas transit from Gazprom through Ukraine expires in 2024. Despite the uncertainty, Parlicov assured that Moldova is ready for any scenario and Chisinau will not hinder Russian gas supplies to the left bank.