
Termoelectrica will receive 16.5 thousand tons of fuel oil from the state reserves for the production of heat and electricity in the current gas crisis.
The corresponding decision was adopted by the government at a meeting on Friday in order to resolve the difficult situation in the natural gas market, to ensure Moldova’s energy security and protect the population. Interior Minister Ana Reveno noted that due to the crisis situation with the supply of natural gas to Moldova, Termoelectrica switched to using fuel oil. Since on October 15, it exhausted its fuel oil supply in order not to stop the technological process of electricity and heat production, the Emergency Situations Commission decided to release 16.5 thousand tons of fuel oil from the state reserves, which will allow maintaining the technological process, providing the population with electricity and heat. According to the government's decision, the Agency for Material Reserves will release 16.5 thousand tons of fuel oil for Termoelectrica from state reserves, which will allow the company to provide the population and important social institutions (kindergartens, hospitals, schools, etc.) with electricity and heat carrier during the cold season. Burning fuel oil from state reserves will ensure the supply of heat and electricity to Termoelectrica, which will keep the tariff for consumers stable and save natural gas without increasing tariffs for the population. It is envisaged that Termoelectrica will use the obtained fuel oil for the production of electricity and heat and will return to the state budget the funds received as a result of its development on the basis of a contract concluded with the Agency for Material Reserves. According to current estimates, the cost of fuel oil sold from the state reserves is 51 million 659 thousand 435.28 lei. However, in the context of the global energy crisis, there is a rapid and uncontrolled rise in oil prices. As a result, it is difficult to establish the price of fuel oil replenishment from state reserves; it is also determined by transport, handling, storage services, etc. (for the transportation of the amount that ensures the replenishment of the state reserve with the released amount, approximately 11-13 trains are needed). Considering that the purchase, transportation and storage of fuel oil takes a long time, it is unrealistic to complete this process in 2021. In this context, it is proposed that when developing the draft state budget for 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs should submit proposals to the Ministry of Finance on the allocation of funds necessary to replenish the state reserve with the volumes of fuel oil provided. //22.10.2021 - InfoMarket.