Moldova's PM warns citizens of 'tough winter', urges energy savings

CHISINAU. Nov 27 (Interfax) - Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean has warned citizens that "a difficult winter is coming" and urges energy savings.

An Interfax correspondent reported that Recean on Wednesday at a government meeting said that it is necessary to prepare for a possible crisis that could arise for two reasons.

"Firstly, this is the possible cessation of [Russian] gas supplies to the left bank [of the Dniester in Transnistria], where almost 350,000 people live, most of them our citizens, who risk being left without heat and electricity. This could turn into a humanitarian catastrophe. These are our citizens, and we must find a solution in the event of a crisis that could occur owing to Gazprom not fulfilling its contractual obligations," the prime minister said.

The second reason he named was an increase in tariffs for natural gas. JSC Moldovagaz submitted the corresponding request to the National Agency for Energy Regulation, and the agency's meeting on the matter is scheduled for November 29.

"This request must be carefully and transparently analyzed. In any case, the government will be with the citizens. We must have an aggressive program, in a good sense of the word, in a crisis aimed at saving energy resources in all our institutions, and also call on the population to be careful and save energy," Recean said.

Recean said that parliamentary hearings on the energy situation, scheduled for next week, should provide answers to numerous questions related to gas and electricity supplies.

Moldova's Energy Minister Viktor Parlicov on Wednesday at a press conference following the talks with Gazprom held this week in St. Petersburg did not rule out Gazprom stopping gas supplies to Transnistria after January 1, 2025.