Transnistria Faces Escalating Energy and Humanitarian Crisis

The situation in Transnistria has deteriorated significantly, as reported by the region's Foreign Minister, Vitaly Ignatyev. An ongoing energy and humanitarian crisis has intensified, particularly following Gazprom's decision to suspend gas supplies to Moldova in early January. This suspension was attributed to a ban on gas transit through Ukraine and Moldova's failure to settle an outstanding debt, which is estimated to be around $709 million.

Ignatyev stated that the humanitarian and energy conditions in Transnistria are worsening, with no signs of improvement in sight. The region is currently experiencing a complete suspension of heating and hot water services, and natural gas is now being utilized exclusively for cooking purposes to prevent a total system collapse. Residents face rotating power outages that can last up to eight hours, with daytime power cuts occurring in four-hour intervals. Many of the internal power networks, some of which date back to the Soviet era, are failing, leading to a complete shutdown of all enterprises in Transnistria.

The situation has been exacerbated by the transformation of the Moldovan thermal power plant, which is now operating on coal and primarily servicing customers on the left bank of the Dniester River. As a result, Moldova has turned to purchasing more expensive electricity from Romania. Recently, the tariff for consumers of Premier Energy, the largest operator in the market, increased by 75%, raising the price to 4.10 lei (approximately $0.22) per kilowatt-hour.

Transnistria lacks alternative sources for natural gas, which has led to drastic measures to conserve resources. Central heating has been turned off, hot water supplies to residential buildings have been cut, industrial operations have ceased, and electrical outages have begun. The coal reserves at the Moldovan thermal power plant are expected to last only until late January or mid-February, further complicating the energy crisis.

This situation poses severe challenges for the residents of Transnistria, as the region grapples with the dual threats of energy shortages and humanitarian needs. The international community is closely monitoring the developments as the crisis unfolds, raising concerns about the potential for further destabilization in the region.