Stoianoglo: If the Moldovan Thermal Power Station Is Unprofitable, Show Us the Numbers

The MP noted that last week everyone was talking about the electricity shortage. Citizens were warned of possible power cuts, while during peak hours Moldova was forced to urgently purchase electricity at inflated prices. Experts have begun discussing the need to build a new power plant to generate electricity domestically and help balance the power system, reports Noi.md. “Build a new one but without even assessing the existing one? People hardly mention electricity prices anymore, even though they are astronomical. Nor do they mention that our entire economy is becoming increasingly uncompetitive because electricity is so expensive,” Alexandru Stoianoglo said. According to him, it is as if we have forgotten that, just a few years ago, Moldova had some of the lowest electricity prices in the region. The electricity was generated by the Moldovan Thermal Power Station. Today, the power station is hardly ever mentioned. Yet its capacity allows it to generate electricity using gas, fuel oil and coal, both for domestic consumption and for export. “So where’s the logic in that? We could buy coal from Ukraine, from CIS countries or on the global market, including from the United States. In any case, the electricity would be cheaper than what we have today. And, most importantly, it would provide a stable supply, meaning we would not have to keep the entire country in a constant state of uncertainty,” emphasised the MP, a former Prosecutor General of Moldova. In his view, geopolitics and a reluctance to support the separatist regime are once again standing in the way. “Perhaps it is time to do the maths rather than tailor energy policy to suit politics? If the Moldovan Thermal Power Station is unprofitable, show us the calculations. If it is profitable, explain why the country is rejecting this option. There should be only one criterion: the price for citizens and the competitiveness of the economy. Not geopolitics,” Alexandru Stoianoglo said.