Rolling blackouts begin in Russian-occupied Transnistria amid gas shortages, local authorities say

Authorities in Russian-occupied Transnistria began rolling blackouts on Jan. 3 after Russia’s suspension of gas exports caused emergency power outages, the so-called economic development ministry announced.

Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom halted gas deliveries to Moldova on Jan. 1, citing alleged unpaid debts by Moldovagaz. Moldovan officials dispute the claim, noting an international audit failed to verify the debts.

While a transit agreement for Russian gas through Ukraine also expired on the same day, Gazprom maintains that Moldova’s debts, not transit issues, prompted the suspension.

The blackouts, aimed at reducing energy consumption, will last an hour in the evenings across main cities — Tiraspol, Rybnitsa, and Bender — and several villages.

Moldova prepares for harsh winter, as Russian-occupied part of country runs out of gas

Moldova enacted a state of emergency, as the country gears up for an energy crisis at the start of 2025 following the end of Ukraine’s obligations to transport Russian gas through its territory. Moldova, and especially the country’s breakaway region of Transnistria, will be hit the hardest followin…

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Transnistria, home to approximately 370,000 residents, has been heavily affected, with widespread heating outages reported. In January, the average temperature in Transnistria can drop to -5 °C (24°F) at night.

Sergey Obolonik, the first deputy chairman of the Transnistrian administration, called the crisis "grave," saying that shortages have left nearly 75,000 households without gas and another 116,000 with reduced supply.

Prolonged disruptions could cause "irreversible damage" to the region’s industrial capacity, he warned.

Moldova has offered to help Transnistria purchase gas through European platforms. Vadim Cheban, head of Moldovagaz, said on Jan. 2 that Chisinau is ready to assist Transnistrian authorities in securing energy resources on market terms to mitigate the crisis.

Russian troops have occupied Transnistria since the early 1990s.

Transnistria faces industrial collapse after Russian gas suspension, senior official says

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean has criticized the Kremlin for using energy as a “political weapon.”

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Source link

Related posts:

Transnistria rejects offer to buy gas from Europe, expects Russia to resume supplies Moldova faces 'security crisis' after Russian gas shut-off, PM Recean says Transnistria faces industrial collapse after Russian gas suspension, senior official says Transnistria urges residents to heat stoves with wood amid significant gas shortages Moldova to import electricity from Romania, Ukraine as Russia halts gas supply Inside Russia’s € 150 million propaganda blitz to undermine Moldova’s EU path Russia officially halts gas supplies to Moldova's Transnistria Moldova’s Russian-controlled Transnistria return to wooden rural stoves amid Russian gas cutoff