Briefing of the PMR President on February 1: Main Points

The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky held a briefing on the energy crisis in Pridnestrovie last week. The republic lived in conditions of no gas supplies and an acute shortage of electricity for a whole month.

Gas supplies to Pridnestrovie

The main issue was the resumption of gas supplies to the republic. The President Vadim Krasnoselsky said that the Moldovan Emergency Situations Commission had made a positive decision to launch European humanitarian gas to Pridnestrovie. The gas volumes will be enough to heat the residential sector, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, clinics, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

“The system is filled with gas on February 1-2. I think that on Saturday-Sunday, we will switch one unit at the Dnestrovsk State District Power Plant to gas. In theory, we should get rid of rolling blackouts on Saturday, approximately Saturday-Sunday. Naturally, the thermal power industry also receives gas. This is Sunday-Monday. We will gradually raise the temperature so that there are no major accidents. Of course, accidents are not excluded in this operating mode on Sunday-Monday. Nevertheless, I think that people will have heat in their homes”, said the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky in the course of the briefing on the 1st of February.

The President recalled that information appeared on January 27 on the European Commission website about providing a grant to Pridnestrovie and Moldova to overcome the energy crisis. This proposal caused a lot of discussion and speculation.

“I was forced to appeal through social networks, through a telegram channel and officially for an explanation of this position. We do not need money in fact. They write millions there, but we will not see them. We need gas, which will be purchased for this money and delivered to Pridnestrovie. Of course, I am grateful to the European Commission and those officials who did not stand aside and are ready to help the Pridnestrovian people overcome this energy crisis. We did not refuse this help. It would probably be shameless before the people – to refuse the help that is offered at such a difficult time. According to the messages of the Prime Minister of Moldova, Mr. Recean, it became clear what and where will be spent. We are fine with all of this”, – added Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The President reminded the media representatives of the chronology of events of the last month. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the problem of gas supplies to Pridnestrovie could have been solved much earlier, but the officials of the Republic of Moldova were not interested in this.

Long-term supplies

The gas that will be supplied to Pridnestrovie at the expense of the European grant will be enough until February 10. However, the republic needs reliable, stable and long-term suppliers, noted President Vadim Krasnoselsky. Negotiations with Hungarian companies are currently underway.

“Of course, other relations should grow together then. One does not interfere with the other. We will continue working with our colleagues from Hungary, with our Russian colleagues, with other colleagues, so that gas will flow to Pridnestrovie thoroughly and for a long time”, – told Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The Role of the Russian Federation in Overcoming the Energy Crisis in Pridnestrovie

Speaking about the progress of negotiations on gas supplies, President Vadim Krasnoselsky noted the productive interaction with officials and specialists from the Russian Federation. The President visited Moscow in mid-January, where he discussed options for resuming gas supplies to Pridnestrovie.

“It seemed to me that we had found a way out. Returning from Moscow, I was confident in solving the problem. In addition, there were agreements that the Russian Federation provides us with a loan, with the help of which we can pay for the gas supply. This is absolutely normal, these are credit obligations, no questions. What I want to note and for which I thank my Russian colleagues: I saw a sincere desire to help. People worked on weekends, waited for us, we worked on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to ensure this logistics. I assure you and want to reassure Moldovan citizens: there was not even a shadow of a desire to escalate the situation. This is all untrue, this is all a lie. No one was dealing with issues of escalation, how to make things worse for their neighbor. No. The question was how to help Pridnestrovian citizens”, said the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky.

Prerequisites for the energy crisis

The President Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled that there are two reasons for the energy crisis – political and economic. The economic reason is the incorrect financial relations between the "Moldovagaz" and "Gazprom" enterprises. As for the political reason, it is connected with the lack of dialogue between Moldova and Pridnestrovie.

“This is the lack of a normal platform for clarifying positions, this is the lack of the “5+2” format. Let me remind you that the "5+2" format is not just two numbers with a plus. It includes Pridnestrovie, Moldova, guarantors – Russia and Ukraine, the OSCE mediator and observers – the United States and the European Union. This is the platform that would allow us to discuss, among other things, energy issues and make timely decisions to avoid an energy crisis in Pridnestrovie. Not only in Pridnestrovie. There would be no energy crisis if this platform worked, I assure you. This is the first point. The second point is the lack of a normal dialogue with the top officials of the Republic of Moldova. I have already said it many times, and I will repeat it again: I always have proposals for dialogue. But there is no dialogue, and this makes it difficult to clarify all the issues, the entire problematic agenda that exists today”, – told Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The President called on the leadership of the Republic of Moldova to abandon harsh rhetoric and move to constructive communication.

Operation of the Moldavian GRES

The President spoke about the work of the Moldavian GRES in Dnestrovsk, on which the operation of the energy system of the entire region depends.

“This station must be in operation all the time. At least one power unit must be in operation. It does not matter whether it is gas or coal-fired, but the generator must be spinning. Why? Because only when the station is operating can we transit electricity from Romania to Moldova and balance the energy with Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Pridnestrovie. Everything will drop if the station stops operating. Absolutely everyone will feel it: Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Pridnestrovie. This will be a collapse of the energy system. Surprisingly, it took a long time to explain this to specialists from Moldova”, – told the President.

Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that MGRES will not be able to return to coal after resuming operation on gas. The coal reserves at the station are exhausted. They are left for literally a couple of days. The government has already been tasked with replenishing strategic coal reserves. Let us recall that the Moldavian GRES can only operate on anthracite.

The President emphasized that the volumes of gas that will be supplied to Pridnestrovie from February 1 to 10 will not be enough to generate electricity for Moldova. It is not expected that electricity will be exported after the start of gas supplies using the Russian loan.

Resonant statements by Moldovan politicians

President of the PMR Vadim Krasnoselsky commented on the statements made by Moldovan politicians at the height of the energy crisis. These statements concerned the nationalization of enterprises located on the left bank of the Dniester, the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces, speculation about the causes of the energy crisis and attempts to shift the blame for it to the Russian Federation.

“I have seen on the networks, on the Moldovan networks, that electricity is being transited through Pridnestrovie. Romania, Moldova. Pridnestrovie can disconnect. I am very responsible and understand the possible consequences of all these actions. This is called escalation. We have not done this and will not do it because we understand that this will completely unbalance the entire system, the regional energy system as a whole. Everyone will suffer from this, including us, including Moldova. This cannot be done”, – told Vadim Krasnoselsky.

Utility Tariffs

Journalists' questions also concerned utility tariffs. In particular, media representatives were interested in whether the change in the energy supply scheme would lead to higher prices.

“The issue of rates will be raised, I will not hide it. Of course, we must very flexibly move along the path of increasing energy prices, so that the well-being of citizens does not fall to a certain level. This is true. I still assume that people will feel it when they pay for January. The government is already working to stretch these payments over a long period of time, so that citizens do not pay the entire amount for January at once. If someone wants to pay, they can pay. If there is a desire to pay in installments, I think that this should be done. Energy prices are an open question”, – told Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The President noted that there is no talk of a sharp increase in tariffs. The issue will be further discussed in the Supreme Council and the Government.

Dialogue with Moldova

Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that amid the energy crisis, trust in the relationship between Pridnestrovie and Moldova has been greatly shaken, there were problems before.

“We also have an economic blockade from Moldova, and a banking blockade from Moldova. These issues need to be addressed. How can we do this without dialogue? I can say one thing for sure: without dialogue, it is impossible to return to trust between the parties. That is why I said that the first reason is the lack of dialogue. This is the first reason for all the events, blockades, energy crisis and so on. I suppose that Moldovan politicians have their own advisers, someone suggests resolving the issue very quickly. This is all a lie. No one has yet come up with a better dialogue than one-on-one. Only these one-on-one dialogues are capable of solving a lot of problems in reality. Dispel myths, remove stereotypes, come to some decision, conclude an agreement, implement it, bear responsibility to the interlocutor. That's all. We should not think about escalation. We should think about peace. Of course, we should restore relations. I sincerely want this”, – added Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The President of the PMR once again called on Moldovan officials to avoid making accusatory statements against Pridnestrovie and emphasized that our republic is not an aggressor.

Energy independence

Alternative energy sources are being discussed more often in the absence of gas supplies to Pridnestrovie. According to President Vadim Krasnoselsky, such areas as green energy and solar panels will be in demand after the crisis is over come. Demand for stoves and solid fuel boilers will increase in the private sector.

“Of course, people will think about how to install a stove, a potbelly stove, a boiler on wood, coal, and so on. We have an "Elektromash" enterprise, where the production of boilers with a capacity of 15 to 500 kW will be established. Of course, we are not sitting idle. We purchased these boilers before "Elektromash" manufactured them, and installed them at our facilities, including social ones. We were preparing for this situation four years ago. We managed to connect the gas pipeline to the Caushany GIS, through which we will now receive gas in Pridnestrovie. Even then there were prerequisites for crisis phenomena. You did not know about this, but I knew about them. The relevant specialists knew about them too. We were working on this. Two years ago, we purchased generator stations that generate electricity autonomously, run on diesel fuel, and supply almost all hospitals, all social facilities, places of detention, and other facilities. The work was very large-scale, voluminous, and multi-vector. It will be carried out in the future. These are all elements of the fight against the energy crisis”, – added Vadim Krasnoselsky.

However, dependence on gas will remain. Pridnestrovie is 97% gasified. Therefore the issue of stable supply of "blue fuel" is a priority.

"Information surge" around Pridnestrovie

The energy and humanitarian crisis in Pridnestrovie has attracted the attention of the world community. The situation in our republic has been and continues to be written about in foreign media.

“They talk about Pridnestrovie everywhere. We are at the top of the information, so to speak. This is both good and bad. As it is already. I once said in 2017 or 2018 (and I have no doubt in the recognition of Pridnestrovie, in its independence), and now I want to repeat that we do not want recognition through blood. We do not want recognition through wars. You can’t mock the people like that. The people do not deserve it. The people have already endured all the hardships of this life. This nation has lived through more than one revolution, restructuring of the system, the war of 1992. It simply has the right to a normal life. I would very much like for the rich military history of Pridnestrovie to be stopped at some stage, and there would be a history of creation, development, peace, and prosperity of Pridnestrovie then”, – noted the PMR President.

Consolidation of the Pridnestrovian people

Everyone was under great emotional and moral stress during the energy crisis and before it. A lot of work was done in December, thanks to which, after the gas supplies were cut off, the main social facilities of the republic continued to operate. The first meeting of the Operational Headquarters was held on January 1. Power engineers and heat engineers played a very important role, working day and night in the most difficult conditions. Call centers were working. Each citizen's application was reviewed, analyzed, and telephone records were kept. The most difficult situation in the republic united the Pridnestrovian people. 

“The Pridnestrovian people are not broken. There is no need to count on crises to break the Pridnestrovian people. It is a waste of time. We will endure and not this – God forbid, of course. In general, I really want to see schools full of children, to see kindergartens with girls and boys. My eldest grandson goes to school, my daughter goes to school, my grandson goes to kindergarten, and I want to get them back there. Let them be in their own children's society and enjoy life. Whoever wanted to encroach on this – I feel sorry for these people. Aggression only breeds aggression and nothing more. We are peace-loving people. We put the interests of the people first”, said Vadim Krasnoselsky.

The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that it is too early to relax. The republic's leadership, all officials and specialists will continue to work actively until the energy situation stabilizes.

Photo by the press service of the PMR President