Moldova to buy electricity from Ukraine in May due to scheduled repairs at Romanian supplier

CHISINAU. April 28 (Interfax) - Moldova's state-owned Energocom has signed a contract to buy 30,000 MWh of electricity from Ukrainian company Ukrgidroenergo in May.

Energocom will purchase 290,000 MWh in May from the Moldavskaya GRES or MGRES power plant in the Transdniestrian region, which is 92% of electricity demand. The price of $66 per MWh was agreed last month for a period of six months. The rest of the electricity will be purchased from Ukrgidroenergo. The preliminary overall volume is 30,000 MWh. The price in the daytime is $95/MWh, and at night $55/MWh," the Moldovan company said in a statement.

The contract with Ukrgidroenergo is the first signed by Energocom to set different prices for day and night.

Energocom previously bought lacking electricity from Nuclearelectrica SA in Romania, however, the Romanian state-owned company is carrying out scheduled repairs in May. "If necessary, Energocom can also purchase electricity from the Romanian exchange during peak hours," Energocom said.

Energocom extended its contract with the MGRES plant in Transdniestria for six months at the end of March. The purchase price decreased $7 from $73/MWh to $66/MWh. The plant will supply 90% of Moldova's requirement.

Moldova will purchase another 5% of its requirement from Romania's Nuclearelectrica at a price of 91 euro/MWh. If necessary, during peak hours, electricity will be purchased on the Romanian energy exchange.

Transdniestria has received all gas supplied to Moldova from Russia's Gazprom to generate electricity at the MGRES plant since December last year.