Moldova declares readiness to meet energy needs without power plant in Transnistria
CHISINAU. Dec 24 (Interfax) - Moldova's Energy Ministry has published a plan for how the country intends to provide power to consumers without electricity supplies from the Moldavskaya GRES (MoldGRES) power plant in Transnistria, which has provided an average of 80% of the country's electricity this year.
In order to provide uninterrupted power to the right bank of the Dniester River, Moldova needs to cover the consumer load, which peaks at 850 MW in winter, the ministry said.
The installed capacity of renewable energy sources in Moldova's national grid will increase to more than 600 MW by January 1 from 521 MW at the beginning of October, and there are plans to buy up to 200 MW of capacity on Romania's OPCOM electricity exchange to cover peak demand, the ministry said. However, prices on the exchange market are higher and very volatile, since they depend on weather conditions and market demand, it added.
But it also noted the importance of energy conservation. "We will have to make an effort to cut about 60 MW from peak consumption," the ministry said.
The Termoelectrica and CET-Nord thermal power plants will cover about 200 MW of basic demand, the ministry said, adding that the latter "still has reserves to increase production capacity."
As part of expected supplies from Romania, a contract has been secured for 100 MW from the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant at a limited price and there are plans to buy another 100 MW from OMV Petrom's Brazi thermal power plant.
"The guaranteed capacity of imports from ENTSO-E for Moldova amounts to 315 MW. Thanks to the support of the European Union, ENTSO-E and electricity transmission operators from Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Energy Community Secretariat of Romania, a mechanism for increasing capacity was determined. We will be able to use unreserved capacity at other borders between ENTSO-E and the Moldova-Ukraine joint regulation bloc. Furthermore, we will be able to connect a 110 kV power transmission line with Romania along which it will be possible to transmit more than 100 MW," the ministry said.
Transnistria will be supplied with electricity independently thanks to MoldGRES operating on coal, the ministry said. "As for consumption on the left bank of the Dniester, it will fluctuate from 120 MW to 180 MW. The left bank has announced that it will cover its own consumption by operating one generating unit at [MoldGRES] with capacity of about 140 MW on coal for 50 days given the availability of coal reserves, as well as with the operation of the Dubasari hydropower plant," the ministry said.
Moldova imposed a 60-day state of emergency on December 16 due to the potential risk of an energy shortage because of the anticipated suspension of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine to Transnistria. Energy Ministry State Secretary Constantin Borosan said on December 18 that the share of electricity supplies from MoldGRES had shrunk to 31% of energy consumption in Moldova on the right bank of the Dniester.
Moldovagaz has been receiving gas from two sources since December 2022, from state company Energocom and Russian gas giant Gazprom . Russian gas is transmitted to Transnistria in exchange for electricity generated by MoldGRES.
Transnistria imposed a state of emergency on December 10 that calls for a ban on electricity exports if supplies of Russian gas stop.
Last week, Moldova's Energy Ministry confirmed reports that Gazprom had not reserved capacity for gas transit to Transnistria for January through the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which is an alternative route to shipments through Ukraine.
