OREANDA-NEWS. January 08, 2009. The energy situation in Moldova remains under control, and the gas is sufficient to ensure the Moldovan consumers  consumption for at least 24 hours. First Deputy Premier, Economics and Trade Minister Igor Dodon made statements to this effect at a meeting of the National Commission for Emergencies.

Igor Dodon specified that, despite the complete cessation of the gas supplies, there are reserves for another 6-7 days in the gas pipelines from southern Moldova. The consumers can be supplied with gas from reserves another 24 hours in the north and center of Moldova and the Chisinau municipality.

The first deputy premier said that there is a possibility for Moldova to additionally get 300 cubic metres of gas per hour through the pipeline Ananiev-Cernauti-Pogoroceni, which could extend the normal regime of the household consumers' gas supply.

At the same time, Igor Dodon said that there are no risks of disconnection or shortage of electric energy in Moldova. Besides, the power plant from Cuciurgan, Transnistria, increased the production of electricity from 400 to 640 MW/hour. "Presently, Moldova exports about 210 MW of electric energy to Romania, so that there are no concerns about the supply with electricity," the first deputy prime minister said.

To save the gas reserves, the government undertook measures to supply the Moldovan thermal electric power stations with crude oil and to ensure their operation exclusively on its basis. At the same time, the delivery of gas to economic agents which are not involved in production or have gas debts was limited.

The director of the Termocom stock company, the Chisinau-based principal heating operator, said that the enterprise reached an agreement with the thermal electric power stations to reduce the temperature of the thermal agent to 60 degrees, and cease the population's hot water supply. This fact will allow saving ten per cent of the gas, as well as shifting to the consumption of crude oil at the pumping stations, which might save another 10,000 cubic metres of gas per hour.

The members of the commission for emergencies heard a report on the situation at the social, medical and education institutions from Moldova. The members ascertained that both, the household consumers and the social, medical, education institutions, as well as the National Army and border guards units have not been affected by the gas crisis for the time being. All the hospitals, kindergartens, schools and social institutions of Moldova are supplied with enough fuel for heating.

Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii said that, for the time being, the production enterprises, which may have losses if stopping their activity, have not been disconnected from gas supply. The government insists on the fact that the economic agents which pay the gas bills on time, especially those which manufacture goods, should not be disconnected from gas supplies. At the same time, the premier gave instructions to keep a close eye on the situation in the social, medical and education institutions.

At the same time, Zinaida Grecianii reiterated an appeal to all consumers to take into account the present situation, and economize, as far as possible, the energy resources. The prime minister stressed that, at the same time, she keeps in touch with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities, so as to watch the evolution of the negotiations between the two sides on the resumption of gas supplies.