Head of Moldovan energy importer Energocom dismissed at prime minister's request

CHISINAU. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The board of the Moldovan state enterprise Energocom, the main supplier of gas and electricity to Moldova, has decided to dismiss the company's acting CEO Victor Banzari, the Moldovan Agency for Public Property said.

"The Energocom board has decided to terminate the employment contract with the acting CEO, Victor Banzari. December 12 will be his final working day," the agency said.

Eugeniu Buzatu will become acting CEO of Energocom from December 13.

On December 5, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean demanded the resignation of Energy Minister Victor Parlicov as well as Energocom CEO Banzari and a member of the supervisory board of Moldovagaz, Sergiu Tofilat. Recean explained his demand in terms of Moldova's poor preparations for the winter heating season and the fact that Energocom and Moldovagaz had "failed to create sufficient gas reserves, posing a threat to Moldova's energy security." Following Parlicov's resignation, Recean announced that he would personally take on the duties of energy minister.

Banzari rejected the prime minister's accusations, asserting that he had performed his duties professionally, Moldovan media reported.

Since December 2022, Moldovagaz has been receiving gas from two sources - the state enterprise Energocom and Russia's Gazprom . Russian gas is sent to Transdniestria in exchange for electricity. Energocom purchases gas from European traders on exchange platforms and is also the key importer of electricity to Moldova.

On Wednesday, the Moldovan government decided to introduce a state of emergency from December 16 for 60 days due to the energy situation. The decision still needs to be approved by parliament.

Moldovan authorities are preparing for an energy crisis, as the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine is expected to cease on January 1, 2025. This will reduce electricity generation at the Moldavskaya GRES power plant in Transdniestria, which currently accounts for 80% of Moldova's electricity consumption.

The leadership of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic announced the introduction of a state of emergency on December 10, which includes a ban on electricity exports in the event of a halt in gas supplies.