The Ministry of Energy has drafted and published for public consultations the Cold Season Preparedness Plan 2024-25. The draft envisages 45 measures to ensure the security of supply of energy resources in winter this year, including the voluntary reduction of natural gas consumption by 15%, as recommended by the European Union, as well as the promotion of the use of alternative fuels.

Thus, by mid-November, the security stocks of natural gas of 15% of the average annual consumption will be created; the state reserves of fuel oil and coal will be filled up to the maximum level, although Termoelectrica is not planned to supply fuel oil; the creation and maintenance of alternative fuel stocks by interruptible consumers; creation and maintenance of reserve fuel stocks by sugar factories; checking and maintenance of electric generators in public institutions and equipping with generators those institutions where they are lacking; use of solid biofuel in institutions equipped with special boilers, etc.

Activities to prepare for the cold season will be coordinated and monitored by a special government commission.

The winter plan envisages two scenarios of the Russian Gazprom's behavior after the expiry of the contract on the transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine on January 1, 2025.

One scenario assumes that the Russian side will look for alternative routes for gas supply to the Transnistrian region, given the contractual obligations of Gazprom to Moldovagaz. In this situation, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova will not obstruct the continued delivery of natural gas by Moldovagaz to Tiraspoltransgaz.

In case of scenario II, in which "Gazprom" would stop natural gas deliveries, the gradual implementation of several measures to mitigate the impact of this decision will be considered. However, even if Gazprom stops supplying natural gas, the Ministry estimates that there will be no shortage of natural gas for consumers on the right bank and there will be no need to disconnect interruptible consumers. If necessary, Energocom JSC could ensure the supply of natural gas to the protected/vulnerable categories of consumers in the Transnistrian region through Tiraspoltransgaz LLC, in return for an appropriate payment of the costs of natural gas purchase. Even if the existing natural gas transportation infrastructure makes it possible to ensure the transportation of gas needed to cover the consumption of the Republic of Moldova (for both banks of the Dniester), there are risks to the ability of consumers on the left bank to purchase natural gas at market prices, the plan warns.

At the same time, in order to provide electricity to the right bank of the Dniester in the pessimistic scenario, it will be necessary to increase the import of energy from EU countries and to increase the trade capacity at the Romania - Republic of Moldova border, in the context of the limited capacity allocated by ENTSO-E for the AU/MD block to cover the import needs for the consumption of the right bank from Romania or other EU countries. Other 110 kV power lines would also be activated.