Wiadomość została wysłana.
The power cuts, which come amid temperatures of minus 8 degrees Celsius, deepen Transnistria’s energy crisis.
Kyiv's decision not to extend a decade-old transit contract, which allowed Moscow to use a strategic pipeline running through Ukraine to make gas deliveries to Europe, has impacted the region.
Deprived of heat that was produced by burning Russian gas, Transnistria’s citizens have been forced to find other ways of keeping warm, donning winter clothing indoors and burning firewood.
They have also been plugging in electric heaters. “This has led to network overload,” said Constantin Borosan, state secretary of Moldova’s Energy Ministry.
The increase in demand caused by electric heaters has practically “negated the effect of reduced consumption from the suspension of business activities,” Borosan said.
Last week, Transnistria’s de facto government decided to suspend all industrial operations except for food production.
Demand for firewood in Transnistria has also soared, overwhelming a special government hotline with requests for such fuel and prompting state forest officials to provide wood free of charge to anybody who can collect it.
On the other bank of the Dniester River, Moldova—whose energy system is interconnected with that of Transnistria—has so far avoided any outages.
The country is taking steps to cut its energy consumption by around 30%. Businesses are encouraged to operate at night, when energy demand is lower, in order to avoid overloading the grid.
An information campaign on saving energy has also been launched.
