kyiv has proposed sending coal “free” to thermal power plants in Transdniestria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova landlocked between the two countries, and affected by gas shortages since the beginning of January.
This strip of land was supplied by the Russian giant Gazprom free of charge to support the separatists, but this gas, which transited through Ukraine, was cut off on January 1st.
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Ukraine offered on Saturday to send “for free” coal to thermal power stations in Transdniestria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova landlocked between the two countries, and affected by gas shortages since the beginning of January. This strip of land which escapes the control of the central Moldovan authorities was supplied by the Russian giant Gazprom free of charge to support the separatists, but this gas which transited through Ukraine was cut off on January 1 due to the expiration of the contract between Kiev and Moscow, leading to heating and electricity cuts.
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kyiv had decided not to renew this contract out of concern for energy and economic independence from its neighbor who launched an invasion on its soil almost three years ago. “We have coal that we can supply to Moldova, to Tiraspol. If they really want people to have electricity”explained the Ukrainian president during a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu, adding that he was “willing to discuss a low price, or even free”.
This coal could power the Cuciurgan power plant in Transdniestria, which then supplied 70% of Moldova’s electricity before the Russian gas cut. If the rest of Moldova is for the moment spared from cuts thanks to electricity and gas imports from Romania, this is not the case for the separatist region. Demonstrations broke out there on Friday to push Chisinau to facilitate the delivery of Russian gas and put an end to its energy crisis, according to local media.
“Now it is up to the Tiraspol regime to accept this aid and ensure that people have heat and electricity as quickly as possible”declared Maia Sandu, the Moldovan president during the meeting.
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While kyiv has been fighting against Moscow for three years, Chisinau fears an extension of the conflict on its soil, in particular through Russian destabilization of Transdniestria. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean on Wednesday accused Moscow of wanting “create instability in Moldova”in an interview with AFP. He affirmed that the crisis would only find a lasting solution with a withdrawal of Russian troops stationed in Transdniestria since a war between this territory and Moldova in 1992, at the fall of the USSR.
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