Important decisions on situation in Moldova's energy sector: PM announces resignations, demands establishment of emergency state in energy sector

Chisinau, 5 December /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Dorin Recean has asked for the resignation of more decision-makers in charge of the situation emerged in the energy sector of Moldova. Energy Minister Victor Parlicov, who committed mistakes in the management of the situation and the director general of the Energocom enterprise, Victor Binzari, will be dismissed from office. According to the PM, Energocom did not purchase gas, hiding behind the bureaucracy and thus failed to supply the needed quantity for the winter period at the most advantageous prices, the government’s communication department has reported.   

The prime minister also asked for the resignation of Sergiu Tofilat from the position of member of the Moldovagaz enterprise’s Council of Observers, who blocked the purchasing of gas by the competent institutions. In this respect, the prime minister asked the Public Property Agency (APP) to summon the general Assembly, in order to appoint a new member, in cooperation with the civil society.    

’These persons either blocked or did not react at the fit moment, in order to purchase gas at the most suitable price. Instead of looking for guilty people and shift the blame from one to another, their task was to supply the country with gas at the opportune moment,’’ Dorin Recean said.      

At the same time, the PM stressed that he would take over the energy portfolio till the appointment of a new minister. Recean stressed that the participants in a meeting with the institutions in charge of Moldova’s supply with gas and electric energy had set more tasks dealing with the contingency plans for the next period:    

* Moldelectrica enterprise will provide a higher capacity of import of the electric energy, if necessary;

* Moldelectrica will prepare the scenarios of insular interconnection by high-tension line with Romania;   

* Moldelectrica will coordinate with Ukrainian counterparts the logistics of maintenance and repair of the Isaccea-Vulcanesti high-tension line;

* Energocom must conclude contingency contracts, so that the citizens have electricity, if the Kuchurgan power station cannot work;   

* VestMoldTransgaz will increase the volumes of gas at the expense of the balancing of the natural gas between the systems of transport of natural gas with the counterparts from Ukraine;  

* Termoelectrica will prepare the plans on increasing the capacity of production of electric energy.

„We will ask the parliament to establish the state of emergency in the energy sector starting from 16 December. Thus, we will prepare for any scenario, especially as given that the cold has been used as a weapon against the people from the entire region for three years,’’ the prime minister added.