2024-04-11 02:07:01
Moldova began work today to better connect its electricity grid with neighboring Romania and reduce its dependence on Russian energy, AFP reported. The small country, which is a candidate for EU membership, wants to completely separate itself from Russia, BTA reports.
The project will allow Chisinau to do without the thermal power plant in Kuchurgan, located in the separatist pro-Russian region of Transnistria, which currently provides 70 percent of its electricity.
“By directly connecting the capital Chisinau with Romania, we remove any vulnerability,” Constantin Borosan, state secretary at the Ministry of Energy, told AFP.
Achieving “energy security” is a priority for this former Soviet republic of 2.6 million people, plunged into deep crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pro-European president Maja Sandu, who regularly criticizes “Russian energy blackmail”, welcomed in late March “one of the most important infrastructure projects since independence” in 1991.
In addition to its dependence on Transnistria, Moldova received most of its supplies from Russian giant Gazprom.
It has been importing electricity from Ukraine, but Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have forced Kiev to halt exports to neighboring Moldova.
Moldova received EU candidate status on June 23, 2022, the start of a long and complex process.