European Commission to provide Moldova with an emergency grant of 64 million euros for gas and electricity purchases, as well as for budget support
Cabinet’s press service said that the Moldovan government and the European Union will sign on Friday a 64-million-euro grant agreement finalized by Chisinau and Brussels. It was agreed that out of this sum, besides 30 million euros earmarked for the purchase of gas and electricity for both banks of the Dniester, Moldova will receive another 34 million euros to support the budget. The money will be received in two installments. Out of 30 million euros for the purchase of gas and electricity, 20 million euros will be used for the purchase of natural gas by o Energocom o as an emergency humanitarian aid for the Transnistrian region of Moldova, meant for household consumers, schools and social purposes. The gas purchased for the left bank of the Dniester will be used to produce heat for the region's residential buildings and to support the activity of Moldavskaya GRES to ensure energy security in the region, including the transit of electricity between Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Another 10 million euros will be used to purchase electricity to support the population and needs of the right bank of the Dniester, which will be purchased by Energocom on the free market. Additionally, 34 million euros will be provided as budgetary support. “We have reached a final agreement with the European Union on the aid package we announced earlier this week. Today, the government will sign a grant agreement with the European Commission, thanks to which we will receive 64 million euros in free aid. The European Union is saving Moldova again. This means European solidarity. While Russia leaves people in the cold and dark, Europe comes with money, concrete and direct support to get rid of this energy blackmail once and for all. This is not just aid, it is a pledge for the security and prosperity of our country,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean said. Cabinet of Ministers said that since January 1, Russia's Gazprom unjustifiably suspended natural gas supplies to Moldovagaz company, despite the existence of a contract valid until 2026, leaving Transnistrian consumers without natural gas and, consequently, without heat and warm water. At the same time, electricity is cut off for 5 hours every day because Moldavskaya GRES, which has switched to coal-fired operation, cannot cover the electricity consumption needed by the region. To avoid a potential humanitarian crisis on the left bank of the Dniester, the Moldovan authorities made several viable proposals to identify alternatives for natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, which, however, were rejected by Tiraspol. On January 27, the EU announced an urgent support package for Moldova to ensure security of electricity supply in the near term on both banks of the Dniester and to reduce the pressure of tariffs on citizens. Dialogue is ongoing between energy experts on both banks of the Dniester in order to identify legal solutions for the supply of electricity and natural gas to the Transnistrian region in order to rationally and efficiently benefit from the EU financial assistance. // 31.01.2025 - InfoMarket
