The conflict in Iran has generated a new lack of gas in the separatist region of Transnistria from Moldova, a situation that threatens to repeat the crisis that interrupted the supply of heat and electricity to households and industry a year ago, reports Reuters, taken by News.ro.
The pro-Moscow region has long been supplied with Russian gas, practically free of charge, through a pipeline that crosses Ukraine. But authorities in Kiev last year halted gas transit amid a prolonging war with Russia, leaving the region's 350,000 residents and much of its industry with limited electricity and heat for more than a month.
Since then, the region has been getting more expensive gas from European suppliers, but volumes have been reduced due to the conflict with Iran.
“In connection with events in the Middle East, there have been critical disruptions in gas supplies,” the region's Ministry of Economic Development said. “The drastic reductions in gas volumes have led to the limitation of use for commercial purposes or for thermal heating,” added the institution.
Parents, advised to send their children to school well dressed
Igor Grosu, the speaker of the Chisinau parliament, said that Transnistria has enough gas reserves “only for a few days. Let me ask them what they choose – gas every day, even if it is more expensive, or give it up for schools, kindergartens or homes?” – Grosu pointed out.
The ministry from Tiraspol said that hospitals and kindergartens will have normal heating. But on online forums parents are advised to send their children to school “dressed in thick clothes – cardigans, sweaters and vests.
The previous supply crisis took place in January when the Râbniţa Cement Plant suspended its activity, and the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant operated at partial capacity.
The deputy prime minister for reintegration in the Chisinau government, Valeriu Chiveri, stated that the difficulties arose after the payment agent for the gas delivered to the Transnistrian region was changed again. According to the official, the problem is a technical one, not a political one, and it arose after Tiraspol rejected the gas delivery scheme proposed by Chisinau and supported by the European partners, opting instead for the mechanism suggested by Moscow, which Chiveri describes as unsustainable.
