Moldova: Power Outages and Energy Crisis in Transnistria

The end of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine plunges Transnistria, Moldova's separatist region, into a severe energy crisis, leading to power cuts for its residents and increasing tensions with Chisinau.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The energy crisis affecting Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist territory in Moldova, has worsened since the cessation of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine on January 1. This stoppage, the result of a financial dispute between Moscow and Chisinau, highlights the region’s energy vulnerabilities and its 500,000 inhabitants.

Russian gas supplies to Transnistria, historically delivered via the local provider Tiraspoltransgaz, have stopped due to a disagreement over debt owed to Gazprom. Moscow places the debt at $700 million, but Chisinau, disputing the amount, estimates it at around $9 million. The halt in supplies has quickly escalated the region’s energy challenges.

Impacts on the Population and Local Economy

In response to the shortage, the separatist government has introduced regular power outages. On Friday evening, residents were subjected to power interruptions between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM. These measures, deemed insufficient to stabilize the grid, were extended on Saturday, with longer outages planned.

The situation is also affecting the local industrial sector, with many businesses shutting down operations in recent days. According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, leader of Transnistria, the electrical grid’s overload has caused multiple blackouts, already impacting more than 3,000 households, depriving them of heating and light.

The Central Role of the Cuciurgan Power Plant

Transnistria heavily depends on the Cuciurgan thermal power plant for its electricity needs. This facility, located within its territory, also supplies part of Moldova. Outside Transnistria, Moldova has so far been spared from outages, thanks to energy assistance from neighboring Romania and government efforts to reduce consumption.

However, the tensions surrounding the management of this crisis could heighten disputes between Moldova and Transnistria, a region unrecognized by the international community and under Russian influence since the fall of the USSR.

A Worrisome European Context

This crisis occurs as Europe faces a restructuring of its gas supply network. Since the expiration of a transit agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, Russian gas no longer flows through Ukraine, accounting for about one-third of Russia’s exports to Europe.

Eastern European countries, including Moldova and Slovakia, are particularly affected by this new energy reality. The Polish presidency of the European Union has assured that the situation remains “stable” for member states, thanks to high storage levels and increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Despite this apparent stability, Moldova’s situation underscores the persistent challenges of energy independence in Central and Eastern Europe, where geopolitical tensions continue to complicate access to reliable resources.

A jihadist attack targeted Palma, a strategic area in northern Mozambique, marking a return of insecurity near TotalEnergies' suspended gas project since 2021.
Fermi America has signed an agreement with Energy Transfer to secure a firm natural gas supply for powering Phase One of its HyperGrid energy campus, dedicated to artificial intelligence, near Amarillo, Texas.
Rockpoint Gas Storage priced its initial public offering at C$22 per share, raising C$704mn ($515mn) through the sale of 32 million shares, with an over-allotment option expanding the transaction to 36.8 million shares.
Tailwater Capital secures $600mn in debt and $500mn in equity to recapitalise Producers Midstream II and support infrastructure development in the southern United States.
An economic study reveals that Germany’s gas storage levels could prevent up to €25 billion in economic losses during a winter supply shock.
New Fortress Energy has initiated the initial ignition of its 624 MW CELBA 2 power plant in Brazil, starting the commissioning phase ahead of commercial operations expected later this year.
Talen Energy launches $1.2bn debt financing and expands credit facilities to support strategic acquisitions of two combined-cycle natural gas power plants.
The Ukrainian government is preparing to raise natural gas imports by 30% to offset damage to its energy infrastructure and ensure supply continuity during the winter season.
Driven by rising electricity demand and grid flexibility needs, natural gas power generation is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.8% through 2030.
Talen Energy secures $1.2bn term financing and increases two credit facilities to support the acquisition of two natural gas power plants with a combined capacity of 2,881 MW.
Tenaz Energy finalised the purchase of stakes in the GEMS project between Dutch and German waters, aiming to boost production to 7,000 boe/d by 2026.
Sembcorp Salalah Power & Water Company has obtained a new 10-year Power and Water Purchase Agreement from Nama Power and Water Procurement Company, ensuring operational continuity until 2037.
Eni North Africa restarts drilling operations on well C1-16/4 off the Libyan coast, suspended since 2020, aiming to complete exploration near the Bahr Es Salam gas field.
GOIL is investing $50mn to expand its LPG storage capacity in response to sustained demand growth and to improve national supply security.
QatarEnergy continues its international expansion by acquiring 27% of the offshore North Cleopatra block from Shell, amid Egypt’s strategic push to revive gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Polish authorities have 40 days to decide on the extradition of a Ukrainian accused of participating in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
The Japanese company has completed the first phase of a tender for five annual cargoes of liquefied natural gas over seven years starting in April 2027, amid a gradual contractual renewal process.
Baker Hughes has secured a contract from Bechtel to provide gas turbines and compressors for the second phase of Sempra Infrastructure’s LNG export project in Texas.
Targa Resources will build a 500,000 barrels-per-day pipeline in the Permian Basin to connect its assets to Mont Belvieu, strengthening its logistics network with commissioning scheduled for the third quarter of 2027.
Brazilian holding J&F Investimentos is in talks to acquire EDF’s Norte Fluminense thermal plant, valued up to BRL2bn ($374 million), as energy-related M&A activity surges across the country.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.