The Moldovan government approved the introduction of a state of emergency throughout the country for a period of 60 days.
This is provided by for a corresponding resolution, which the government approved at a meeting on Wednesday based on the recommendations of the Commission for Emergency Situations, taking into account the risks of cutting off gas supplies to Moldova. The Cabinet of Ministers recommends that Parliament approve the decision to introduce a state of emergency throughout the country for a period of 60 days. As Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita noted, the state of emergency in the field of energy is planned to be introduced taking into account the fact that Moldovagaz failed to pay in full the advance payment for the gas consumed in January, and an official letter was received from Gazprom, stating about the intention to stop gas supplies to the country if the necessary payments are not made before January 20. It is planned that the declaration of a state of emergency will allow the government to take the necessary urgent measures to ensure gas supplies to the country and its energy security. It is planned that during the state of emergency, the Commission for Emergency Situations will take decisions aimed at rationalizing the consumption of natural gas and other energy resources, take urgent measures to ensure the supply of natural gas, including, in derogation from the regulatory framework, decide on expanding the powers and actions of suppliers and system operators for the purchase, transportation and distribution of gas and other energy resources throughout the country. It is agreed that the Commission for Emergency Situations can coordinate the work of the media to inform the population about the causes and extent of the emergency, about the measures taken to prevent danger, eliminate the consequences of this situation and protect the population; familiarize the population with the rules of conduct in an emergency. The Commission may decide on the introduction of special rules for the use of means of communication; creation of fast tools for collecting payments from consumers for consumed natural gas; establish a special regime for urgent purchases of natural gas, if necessary; allocate financial resources to ensure the purchase of the necessary volumes of natural gas, if necessary; taking other necessary measures to prevent, mitigate and eliminate the consequences of the shortage of natural gas that caused the state of emergency. All decisions of the Commission for Emergency Situations will be binding in Moldova for all heads of central and local public authorities, business entities, citizens. // 19.01.2022- InfoMarket.
