Moldovan Energy Ministry informs how it plans to cover consumption of electric energy on right bank of Dniester as of 1 January 2025, if MGRES ceases supplies

Chisinau, 23 December /MOLDPRES/ - The Energy Ministry today informed how it planned to cover the consumption of electric energy on the right bank of Dniester starting from 1 January 2025, if the Kuchurgan power station (MGRES) ceases the deliveries. The ministry noted that the needed quantity of electricity would be covered from internal production sources, from renewable sources, as well as from import.     

According to the Energy Ministry, to guarantee the uninterrupted delivery of electric energy to the right bank of Dniester, it is necessary to cover the consumption burden, which in winter reaches values of 850 MW during peak hours.  

„On the right bank of Dniester, all domestic production sources will be mobilized – the heating power stations of Termoelectrica enterprise and the CET Nord, which will cover the consumption basis of 200 MW. At the CETs, we still have reserves to increase the production capacity. Another 100 MW was contracted by the Energocom Company from the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant of Romania at the capped price. Another 100 MW is to be contracted from the heating power station from Brazi of OMV Petrom,’’ the Energy Ministry said.     

At the same time, the Hydro-electric power station from Costesti-Stanca can cover up to 10 MW band and the authorities noted that they had already made the needed representations to Romania, for the station to work continuously for the energy system of Moldova.  

The renewable sources of energy during winter can deliver variable quantities of energy from 50 MW and sometimes to 150 MW during certain hours, depending on the weather conditions. The independent producers which generate electric energy from renewable sources on free market can deliver in winter to the network this quantity, depending on the weather conditions. ’’We agreed with the companies’ representatives to turn to good account the electric energy produced, first of all, to cover the needs of consumption of our country and if there is excess in the hours of poor consumption, it can be exported,’’ the Energy Ministry also said.     

Statistics data shows that the installed power of all renewable resources of energy  in the national energy system at the situation from early last October was of 521 MW. On 1 January, the capacity set will be of more than 600 MW and forecasts show that the production of renewable energy increases in the spring.  

The authorities also say that up to 200 MW can be purchased from the electric energy exchange from Romania OPCOM, in order to cover the consumption peaks. The prices for electricity on the exchange are higher and quite volatile, being dependent on the weather conditions, as well as on the demand on market.

At the same time, the Net Transfer Capacities (NTC) from ENTSO-E guaranteed for Moldova is of 315 MW. Due to the support of European Union, ENTSO-E and the electric energy transport operators from Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Secretariat of the Energy Community, of Romania, the mechanisms of enhancement of NTC’s capacity was identified. ‘’We will be able to use the non-reserved capacity at other borders between ENTSO-E and the joint regulation block Moldova-Ukraine. Additionally, we will be able to connect the power lines with the tension 110 kV of interconnection with Romania, through which they can transport 100+ MW,’’ the Energy Ministry said.         

The institution urged the citizens to save electric energy, especially in the peak hours – in the morning during 7:00-11:00 and during 18:00-23:00. This is necessary, so as we do not have deficit of electric energy, so that there are no disconnections from power supply and reduce the pressure from the power networks and price. ‘’We must make an effort, in order to ‘’cut’’ about 60 MW from the consumption peaks,’’ the Energy Ministry added.  

As for the consumption on the left bank of Dniester, it varies between 120 MW and 180 MW. The left bank informed that it would cover its consumption through the work of an energy block at MGRES based on coal, at a capacity of about 140 MW, during 50 days, as long as there are stores of coal and through the work of the Dubasari hydroelectric power station at a variable capacity.