Moldova launches power line connecting it to Romania and stops buying Russian gas – photo

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has announced the commissioning of a power line connecting the country to Romania and the European electricity grid, as well as Moldova's decision to stop purchasing Russian gas.

Source: Sandu on X (Twitter)

Quote: "Today we launched the Vulcănești-Chișinău power line, linking Moldova to Romania and the European grid.

For decades, Moscow used energy to blackmail us. No more: Moldova buys zero Russian gas."

Details: Sandu also announced that two more power lines connecting Moldova to Romania will be operational soon.

Background:

• Moldova was previously almost entirely dependent on the Russian gas company Gazprom for its gas imports. Natural gas supplies frequently led to disputes between Moldova and Russia.
• Although Moldova stopped purchasing gas from Gazprom in December 2022, the Cuciurgan power station, located in Transnistria, continued to receive Russian gas. Moldova purchased electricity from this plant.
• In 2023, Moldova stopped buying gas from Russia's Gazprom for the needs of the right bank of the Dniester River, the territory controlled by the government in Chișinău.
• At the time, Moldova's then prime minister Dorin Recean said the country had ended its dependence on Russian gas by reducing consumption following the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Moldova also recently purchased gas from private Ukrainian companies for the first time. The country is currently considering buying 10-50 million cubic metres of natural gas from Ukraine and hopes to negotiate a price below the market rate.

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