Junghietu Assesses Moldova’s Preparedness for Winter and Warns of Challenges

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said that Moldova is moderately to reasonably well prepared for winter, although the coming cold season will be a challenging one. According to him, the country depends on imports of petroleum products and natural gas, meaning that any changes in international markets also affect Moldova. He made the remarks in an interview with Europa Liberă. “I would say that the country is moderately to fairly well prepared for winter. Let us not forget that Moldova depends on imports of petroleum products and gas, and everything that happens on the international market affects us as well,” the minister noted. He also warned that, as last winter, unforeseen situations could arise. As an example, Junghietu cited the attack on the Isaccea-Vulcanesti power line on Ukrainian territory. According to the minister, the coming winter will not be easy, despite encouraging forecasts of a mild autumn. “This could be a positive sign, but we must also be prepared for cold spells, when energy consumption increases,” Junghietu said. He urged citizens to show solidarity and use energy resources responsibly, particularly during peak hours. “No one is saying that we should freeze, but we need to act sensibly, because a difficult winter lies ahead, one that will be challenging for all of Europe. Moldova is not the only country facing this situation. The energy issue is extremely acute across the entire European continent,” the minister stressed.