On a frigid morning in Moldova’s capital, 39-year-old postal worker Petru Murzin braces for a difficult winter as he fears a looming energy shortage could leave many Moldovans with “no heating, no light.”
His concerns aren’t unfounded.
On Jan.1, Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom is set to halt gas supplies to the European Union candidate country over an alleged $709 million debt for past supplies, a figure fiercely disputed by Moldova’s pro-Western government, that has accused Moscow of weaponising energy as a political tool to destabilise the country.
“I feel that we’ve entered a crisis that is quite difficult to resolve which worries me greatly,” Murzin told The Associated Press in Chisinau.
“Price increases are one thing, but when there is no gas at all, that’s something entirely different.”
The cessation will stop gas flowing to the Kuciurgan power plant, the country’s largest, which is situated in the separatist pro-Russian Transnistria region. The gas-operated plant generates electricity that powers a significant portion of Moldova proper.
“There will be no heating, no light,” Murzin added. “We are entering a very difficult year.”
Transnistria, which broke away after a short war in 1992 and is not recognised by most countries, also declared its own state of emergency earlier this month, fearing the region will not receive gas supplies. A large majority of Transnistria’s 470,000 people speak Russian as their first language and some 200,000 are Russian citizens.
On Dec. 13, Moldova’s parliament voted in favour of imposing a state of emergency in the energy sector, as the looming crisis threatened to leave the former Soviet republic without sufficient energy this winter, sparking fears it could trigger a humanitarian crisis in Transnistria, where the impact of the gas cutoff could be immediately felt.
Many observers have predicted that the looming energy shortage could force residents in Transnistria to travel to Moldova to seek basic amenities to get through winter, a season in which temperatures throughout the country regularly drop below subzero degrees Celsius.
Cristian Cantir, a Moldovan associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, says that Moscow is likely trying to exploit a “potential humanitarian crisis in Transnistria to overwhelm Moldova’s already-strained resources” to amplify tensions between Chisinau and the region’s de facto capital, Tiraspol.
“It could stoke fears among the Moldovan electorate of a violent conflict, and give fodder to pro-Russian parties who will accuse Chisinau of being responsible for increased prices for gas and electricity, which will be a major campaign issue” ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections in 2025, he said.
The unprecedented situation prompted Chisinau last week to implement a series of energy-saving measures beginning Jan.1, which include reducing lighting in public and commercial buildings by at least 30%, and energy-intensive businesses operating during off-peak hours.
“We’ll probably have to save power till we have a solution,” said Nicoleta Neagu, who is from Moldova but works in Germany. “I hope we’ll look at this seriously and not waste power on not-so-useful things.”
After Gazprom announced it would halt gas flows, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean accused Moscow of using energy “as a political weapon” and said his government does not recognise the debt cited by the Russian energy giant, which he said has been “invalidated by an international audit.”
“This decision confirms once again the intention of the Kremlin to leave the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region without light and heat in the middle of the winter,” he said.
For 30-year-old Chisinau resident Iuliana, who did not want to give her surname, power outages would prevent her from doing her online job, which could also be untenable if the heating goes off in the middle of winter in the country of about 2.5 million people.
“We’re afraid, but we’re happy that there’s no snow and the temperatures aren’t that low and we can turn on the heating maybe only in the evening if we work at an office,” she said. “But I work from home and I’ll be directly affected.”
She also noted that Moldova has faced multiple crises in recent years, “But regarding power and gas, it’s the first time we face this,” she said.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu criticised Russia on Monday for Gazprom’s decision and said that the country has gas supplies “for the heating season” and measures will be taken “to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply,” adding that plans are also in place to provide humanitarian aid to residents in Transnistria.
“The Kremlin is again using energy blackmail in an attempt to destabilise the situation, to influence the 2025 parliamentary elections and to undermine our European journey,” she said. “It is important to remain united, show solidarity, and trust in Moldova and its people. And to use energy rationally.”
Moldova has repeatedly claimed Russia is conducting a vast “hybrid war” against the country by meddling in elections, funding anti-government protests, and running vast disinformation campaigns to try to topple the government and derail the country’s EU aspirations.
The Kuciurgan plant was privatised in 2004 by Transnistrian officials and later sold to a Russian state-owned company, but Chisinau doesn’t recognise the privatisation. On Monday, Recean asked the justice minister to review nationalisation legislation, to potentially recover “strategic assets that were forcefully taken over.”
Citing findings by British and Norwegian audit firms, Moldova claims its debt stands close to $8.6 million, a fraction of that claimed by the Russian energy giant. Gazprom said in a statement Saturday that it reserved the right to take further action, including terminating its contract with Moldovagaz, Moldova’s main gas operator, in which the Russian company owns a majority stake.
In late 2022, months after Russia fully invaded neighbouring Ukraine, Moldova suffered major power outages following Russian strikes on Ukraine, which is interconnected to the Kuciurgan plant.
When the war next door started, Moldova was entirely dependent on Moscow for natural gas but has since pushed to diversify and expand its energy sources, and now relies on obtaining gas from other European markets.
Murzin, the postal worker, is expecting to see large inflows of people from Transnistria crossing the border once the shortage hits.
“I think cars will line up for several kilometres at the border,” he said. “Many people will come here, hoping for warmth.”Erizia Rubyjeana
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<<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers="" interested="" applicant="" should="" contact="" us="" for="" more="" information.;="">>><VEHICLES @ RICES
THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE NIGERIA PORT AUTHORITY FOR AUCTION >Custom Auctions Is Up Again and Granting Nigerians the
Privilege to Own Vehicles at Affordable RatesFOR MORE INFORMATION Call or message on WhatsApp 07O ___-6875 __-7992
RICE AVAILABLE FOR SALES ARE :-
MamaGold=30,500
Royal umbrella=30,500
Mama Gold=30,500
Rising sun=30,500
Mama Africa=30,500
Elephant Gold=30,500
Caprice =30,500
NOTE: Delivery fee IS (#5000) which must be paid before we ensure your delivery..
*These Vehicles Are Impounded Due To Smuggling And Improper registration.*
*These Vehicles Are Direct Tokunbo and Has Never Been Used In Nigeria.*.For any purchase
Call the officer
07O -6875 _-7992
#TOYOTA
TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.2 650,000
TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.4 850,000
TOYOTA COROLLA ₦900,000
TOYOTA MATRIX ₦800,000
TOYOTA SIENNA ₦950,000
TOYOTA RAV4 ₦1.2 MILLION
TOYOTA VENZA ₦3.5 MILLION
TOYOTA CAMRY SPIDER ₦1.8 MILLION
TOYOTA HIACE BUS ₦2.5 MILLION
TOYOTA PRADO ₦4 MILLION
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ₦1.8 MILLION
•Toyota Land Cruiser-N1.3m
•Toyota Prado N1.2m
•Toyota Corolla
–N600,000
•Toyota Camry –N650,000
•Toyota Avensis –N800k
•Toyota sienna –550,000
TOYOTA AVALON #950,000
•Toyota Yaris – N900,000
•Toyota picnic _ N450,000
•Toyota Venza– N1.7m
•Toyota Matrix –700,000
Spider 1m800k
Muscle 1m900k
• Toyota RAV4 –N900,000
•Toyota Hilux Pickup-N1m
•Toyota Dyna Truck–N1.3million
•Toyota 4 Runner–N1m
tundra 2.670,000
tacoma 2.5Million
•Toyota Hiace Bus –N1.5m
•Toyota Highlander-N1.2m
•Toyota Big daddy-800k
Toyota Camry Big Daddy=N550,000.
Toyota Camry Tiny-Light=N400,000.
Toyota Avenza =N950,000. To 1.3 million
Toyota Hilux=N 1.2 million
Toyota Avensis=N450,000.
Toyota Camry Muscle=N 600,000. & Spider=N650,000.
Toyota Avalon=N600,000.
Toyota Rav4 SUV=N850,000.
Toyota Sienna=N600,000.
Toyota 4Runner=N800,000.
Toyota Tundra=N 1.8 Million
Toyota picnic=N450,000.
Toyota Highlander=N1m550,000. to 2m
Toyota Corolla=N500,000.
Toyota Prado=N950,000. To 3.4 million
Toyota LandCruisser=N950,000. to 3m
Toyota Yaris=N750.000.
Toyota Matrix=N550,000.
Toyota Haice Bus=N 950,000 to N 1.3 Million
Toyota Camry 2.4M Tiny-Light ₦850.000
Toyota Camry Big-Daddy ₦950.000
Toyota Camry Muscle ₦1.2M
Toyota Camry Spider ₦1.3M
Toyota Avalon ₦2.2M
Toyota Avensis ₦1.2M
Toyota Corolla ₦950.000
Toyota Yaris ₦1.2M
Toyota Matrix ₦900.000
Toyota Picnic ₦1.1M
Toyota Sienna ₦2.1M
Toyota Venza ₦3.2M
Toyota Rav4 ₦1.1M
Toyota 4Runner ₦1.8M
Toyota Hiace-Bus ₦2.9M
Toyota Highlander ₦2.3M
Toyota Land Cruiser ₦4.6M
Toyota Tundra ₦4.8M
Toyota Prado ₦5.3M
#HONDA
HONDA ACCORD ₦700,000
HONDA PILOT ₦1.2 MILLION
HONDA EOD ₦850,000
HONDA ODYSSEY ₦1MILLION
Honda Baby Boy= ₦780,000
Honda Accord EOD= ₦950,000
Honda City= ₦750,000
Honda Crosstour= ₦1.2M
Honda CR-V= ₦950k
Honda Odyssey= ₦850,000
Honda Pilot= ₦1Million
Honda Pilot=N950,000.
Honda Baby Boy=N500,000.
Honda End of Discussion(EOD)=N550,000.
Honda Accord=N500,000.
Honda CRV=N800,000.
Honda Accord ₦950,000
Honda City ₦850,000
Honda Civic ₦950.000
Honda C-RV ₦1.5M
Honda Crosstour ₦1.2M
Honda Element ₦950.000
Honda Evilspirit ₦1.1M
Honda Odyssey ₦1.2M
Honda Pilot ₦2.3M
*Prices of some Volswagen cars:
Golf 2-250,000
Golf 3-N300,000
Golf4-350,000
Golf 5 -N550,000
Jetta-N350,000
Passat-N450,000
#LEXUS
LEXUS Es300 ₦1.3 MILLION
LEXUS Es330 ₦1.6 MILLION
LEXUS Es350 ₦2 MILLION
LEXUS Rx300 ₦1.7 MILLION
LEXUS Rx330 ₦3 MILLION
LEXUS Rx350 ₦4 MILLION
LEXUS RX400 ₦3.5 MILLION
LEXUS GX460 ₦4 MILLION
LEXUS GX470 ₦5 MILLION
LEXUS ES300@#1.3 MILLION
LEXUS ES330@#1.6 MILLION
LEXUS ES350@#2 MILLION
LEXUS RX300@#1.7 MILLION
LEXUS RX330@#3 MILLION
LEXUS RX350@#4 MILLION
LEXUS RX400@#3.5 MILLION
LEXUS GX460@#4 MILLION
LEXUS GX470@#5 MILLION
Lexus GX460=₦6.6M
Lexus GX470=₦8.4M
Lexus GX570=₦13.8M
Lexus IS-250=₦2.1M
Lexus ES-330=₦1.5M
Lexus ES-350=₦2.6M
Lexus RX300= ₦1.5M
Lexus RX330= ₦2.8M
Lexus RX350= ₦3.2M.
Lexus Rx300=N800,000. To N2.1 Million
Lexus Rx330=N850,000 To N2.2 Million
Lexus Rx350=N900,000 To N3.3 Million
Lexus Rx470=N3.m
Lexus Rx330 ₦2.1M
Lexus Rx350 ₦4.1M
Lexus Rx400 ₦5.4M
Lexus Gx470₦7M
#MERCEDES
MERCEDES C240 ₦1.3 MILLION
MERCEDES C300 ₦1.7 MILLION
MERCEDES ML350 ₦2.8 MILLION
MERCEDES GLK350 ₦3.8 MILLION
MERCEDES GL470 ₦4 Million.etc.
BENZ C-CLASS ₦3,000,000
MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 250 4.6M
MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class ₦3,500,000
MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ₦4,000,000
MERCEDES-BENZ GLK ₦4,500,000
MERCEDES BENZ ML₦5,000,000
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.5 million
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.7 million
Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦2.5 million
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.5 Million
Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4.8MILLION
Mercedes Benz ML350 ₦2.3 million
Mercedes Benz g-wagon ₦125 million.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦3.5M
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦3.9M
Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦3.8M
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦4.6M
Mercedes Benz ML₦5.6M
Nissan pathfinder= ₦1.9M
Nissan Altima= ₦1.820,000
Nissan Armanda= ₦1.2M
Nissan Murano 950,000
Nissan Murano=N850,000. to N 1.2 Million
Nissan Pathinder=N800,000. To N 1 million
Nissan Altima=N800,000.
Nissan Maxima=N600,000.
Nissan Altima ₦1.2M
Nissan Armada ₦2.3M
Nissan Maxima N1M
Nissan Murano ₦1.4M
Nissan Primera ₦900,000
Nissan Pathfinder ₦1.5M
Nissan Maxima= ₦1.600,000.e.t.c.
Range rover vogue 8mill
Range rover sport HSE 4.8m
Land rover 3.3m
Land Rover Discovery ₦4.8M
Land Rover Freelander ₦5.5M
Land Rover Vogue ₦5.2M
Range Rover Sport. ₦5.5M
Acura ZDX 1.550,000
Acura MDX 1.6m
Acura TL ₦1.2M
Acura MDX ₦2.2M
Acura ZDX ₦1.9M
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