Moldovan GRES to keep supplying electricity to Dniester western bank if gas supply continues - Transdniestrian leader

CHISINAU. Dec 10 (Interfax) - The Moldovan GRES regional power plant, located in Transdniestria and owned by RAO UES, will keep supplying electricity to the Dniester western bank if gas supply continues, an order by Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky, which amends his order signed on Monday, says.

The order signed by Krasnoselsky on December 9 declared an economic emergency in Transdniestria and banned energy exports, i.e. power supply to the Dniester western bank.

The new order says "there will be no restrictions in case of continued natural gas supply to the region."

The economic emergency in Transdniestria will last for 30 days. The respective order is due to be confirmed at a meeting of the unrecognized republic's Supreme Council on December 11.

Meanwhile, Moldova plans to declare an energy emergency on December 16 in the wake of Kiev's announcement of stopping Russian gas transit through the Ukrainian territory. If the transit stops, it will be hard for Gazprom to supply the necessary amounts of gas to Transdniestria.

Former Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said last week that Gazprom might stop supplying gas to Transdniestria after January 1, 2025. He said Russia was ready to continue gas supply to Transdniestria if Chisinau agrees with Kiev on continuing Russian gas transit through Ukraine.

Gazprom conditions gas supply to Transdniestria on Moldova's recognition of its historical debt estimated by Gazprom at $709 million. Chisinau does not recognize the debt, citing results of an international audit, which, in turn, are not recognized by Gazprom.

The Moldovan GRES, which supplies about 80% of electricity consumed on the Dniester western bank, runs the risk of stopping in case of a gas shortage in Transdniestria.