Moldova declares energy emergency amid fears of Russian gas cutoff

Moldova’s Parliament has voted to impose a state of emergency in the country’s energy sector, bracing for potential disruptions to its natural gas supplies from Russia this winter.

The decision, which passed with broad support in Moldova’s 101-seat legislature on Friday, will take effect on Dec. 16 and last for 60 days.

The move comes amid growing concerns that Moscow may cut off gas supplies to Moldova, a European Union candidate country of 2.5 million people, as part of its broader strategy to destabilize countries in the region.

The state of emergency grants the government the power to implement urgent measures to manage risks posed by a potential energy crisis, particularly if Moscow fails to provide the natural gas needed for Moldova’s largest power plant, the Kuciurgan facility, located in the breakaway, pro-Russian Transnistria region.

Why Is Moldova so Worried About Its Gas Supply?

Prime Minister Dorin Recean described the situation as ‘exceptional,’ warning that Moldova could face a ‘deliberate weaponization’ of energy supplies by Russia.

Such an action, he stressed, could leave Moldovans without heat or electricity during the harsh winter months.

Recean said “The risks are real, and the goal is to create panic and chaos.”

The Kuciurgan power plant, which is crucial for Moldova’s electricity supply, is powered by natural gas supplied by Russian energy giant Gazprom.

The plant was privatized in 2004 by authorities in Transnistria and later sold to a Russian state-owned company. Moldova does not recognize this privatization.

How Dependent on Russia Is Moldova?

Moldova remains heavily reliant on Russian gas despite efforts in recent years to diversify its energy sources.

In late 2022, Moldova experienced significant power outages due to Russian strikes on Ukraine, which is interconnected with the Kuciurgan plant.

The energy vulnerabilities exposed by that crisis have made Moldova especially susceptible to Russian disruptions in gas supplies, particularly while winter temperatures drop.

Meanwhile, Transnistria, the self-declared but unrecognized breakaway region, also declared a state of emergency this week.

The region, which fought a brief war for independence in 1992 and is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, is bracing for a potential cutoff of natural gas.

The latest crisis comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe. Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has long been caught in the crosshairs of Russia’s efforts to maintain influence in the post-Soviet space.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova began making a concerted push to reduce its dependence on Moscow and diversify its energy sources.

Can Moldova Count on EU Members for Support?

Romania, Moldova’s EU neighbor, has pledged support in the event of a gas shortage. Sebastian Burduja, Romania’s energy minister, said on Thursday that Romania has the capacity to assist Moldova if necessary, framing it as a duty in light of the ongoing aggression from Russia.

“If the situation demands it, we will support Moldova,” Burduja added.

Moldova’s Western-oriented government, led by pro-European President Maia Sandu, has taken steps to accelerate the country’s integration with the European Union.

In October, Sandu secured a second term in office, and a referendum showed strong support for Moldova’s EU accession path, despite ongoing concerns about Russian interference in the country’s political process.

Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in efforts to derail Moldova’s westward shift.

This story contains additional reporting from The Associated Press