Transdniestrian PM refers to local situation in absence of gas supply as critical
TIRASPOL. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Alexander Rozenberg, prime minister of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic, has described the situation in the region as critical, the Transdniestrian government press service said.
"Transdniestria is in very difficult, practically critical conditions," Rozenberg said while presenting macroeconomic indicators seen in Transdniestria since the start of 2025 at a meeting of the operational headquarters on Monday.
The halt of natural gas supply has forced most of businesses except for food producers to stop their operations, Rozenberg said. "In the current circumstances, priorities in distributing energy resources have been set with vital needs of the citizens and the state taken into account. Supplies have been provided above all to households, the healthcare system, and the social support system," he said.
The scope of Transdniestria's foreign trade has shrunk dramatically, Rozenberg said. "Imports have dropped by 43%, or $7 million in value terms. A significant decline has been recorded across all commodity groups. Export transactions have also seen a slump, with their volume having decreased by 60%, or $3.3 million. The most considerable decline in export transactions, both in relative and in absolute terms, has taken place with respect to metals and metal products, machine building products, and chemical industry products. Cement exports have been halted completely," he said.
Amid a shortage of energy, a number of businesses have switched to nighttime work, among them Electromash, Intercentre Lux, Softshoes, and some others, Rozenberg said. "In case spare electric energy becomes available, some other businesses also plan to switch to working at night in the near future," he said.
As reported, Transdniestria has extended a state of economic emergency until February 8, as per a decision made by the Transdniestrian Supreme Council at an extraordinary session last Friday, which approved a corresponding decree by head of Transdniestria Vadim Krasnoselsky.
The Cuciurgan Thermal Power Plant, known also as Moldovan GRES, has switched to coal, and only two of its power units are currently generating electricity for households. A total of 122 communities in Transdniestria have no gas supply now.
Transdniestria originally imposed an economic emergency for 30 days on December 11, 2024 in view of "the risk of discontinuation of Russian gas supplies," which actually happened on January 1, 2025.
The Moldovan parliament imposed a state of emergency for 60 days on December 16, 2024.
The measures were prompted by Kiev's decision to stop transporting Russian gas via Ukrainian territory starting January 1, which triggered a shortage of electricity supply on the right bank of the Dniester river. Electricity on the left bank is being generated using coal, but gas and heating supply to households in Transdniestria has been halted, and all industrial entities, except for critical infrastructure elements, hospitals, and social facilities, have been stopped.