Energy Crisis in Transdniestria: Russia’s Gas Supply Halted, Leaving Homes Without Heating and Hot Water
Background
Transdniestria, a breakaway Moldovan region, has been facing an energy crisis after Russia stopped supplying gas via Ukraine, leaving homes without heating and hot water.
Heating and Hot Water Supplies Cut Off
As of Wednesday, Transdniestria’s energy company, Tirasteploenergo, has cut off heating and hot water supplies to households, leaving residents in the dark about how long the situation will last. An employee from the company reported, "There is no heating or hot water. I don’t know how long the situation will last."
Reason for the Crisis
The crisis is attributed to the expiry of a transit deal between Russia and Ukraine, which was the source of gas supply to Transdniestria. The region, a pro-Russian entity, split from the rest of Moldova after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
Measures to Cope with the Crisis
To mitigate the impact, the energy company has issued guidelines to residents, urging them to:
- Dress warmly
- Gather family members together in a single room
- Hang blankets or thick curtains over windows and balcony doors
- Use electric heaters
- Avoid using gas or electric stoves to heat their apartments, as this can lead to tragedy
History of Tensions
Transdniestria has coexisted relatively peacefully with Moldova since a brief post-Soviet war in 1992, with 1,500 Russian troops stationed in the region. The local parliament recently sent an appeal to the Kremlin and Russian parliament to reach a new agreement with Ukraine to enable gas supplies to continue. Moscow has pledged to protect its citizens and soldiers in Transdniestria.
Russia’s Gas Supply to Moldova
Until the expiry of its gas transit deal with Ukraine, Russia was supplying Moldova with approximately 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year, pumped via Transdniestria. Moldova has accused Russia of exploiting its energy dependence on Moscow to destabilize the country, a claim that Moscow denies.
Conclusion
The energy crisis in Transdniestria highlights the region’s vulnerability to external factors, as the halt in gas supplies has left residents without heating and hot water. The situation underscores the need for a long-term solution to ensure the region’s energy security.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened to the gas supply in Transdniestria?
The gas supply was halted due to the expiry of a transit deal between Russia and Ukraine. - How will residents cope with the crisis?
Residents have been advised to dress warmly, gather family members together, hang blankets or thick curtains over windows and balcony doors, and use electric heaters. - What is the history of tensions between Transdniestria and Moldova?
Transdniestria has coexisted relatively peacefully with Moldova since a brief post-Soviet war in 1992, with 1,500 Russian troops stationed in the region. - What is the current situation with Russia’s gas supply to Moldova?
Until the expiry of its gas transit deal with Ukraine, Russia was supplying Moldova with approximately 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year, pumped via Transdniestria.