Iran Conflict triggers New Gas Crisis in Separatist Moldova Region

Transdniestria, Moldova's separatist Transdniestria, has experienced a new gas shortage due to the conflict in Iran, according to authorities. The crisis, which lasted a year ago, caused a power and heat outage for homes and industries.

Transdniestria, a pro-Moscow region, has been receiving Russian gas for years, almost without payment, via a pipeline crossing Ukraine. Kyiv authorities stopped the gas transit last year as the war against Russia continued, leaving 350,000 residents in the region and a large part of the region's industry with little or no heat and power for more than a month.

Since then, the region has been able to secure more expensive gas from European suppliers. However, volumes have decreased due to the conflict with Iran.

The Ministry of Economic Development in the region said that "critical disruptions have occurred in gas supply due to events in the Middle East."

"Sharp reductions in gas volumes led to a limit on the use of gas for commercial or thermal heating."

Igor Grosu said that Transdniestria only had enough gas to last "a few days". I'll ask them if they want gas every day even if it is more expensive, or to be without gas for their schools, kindergartens, and homes?

According to the ministry, hospitals and kindergartens will have normal heating. Online forums advised parents to send their children to school in "warm clothing - cardigans sweaters and vests".

According to reports?from the area, some industries in Tiraspol's regional capital had already been?hit by the shortages.

Transdniestria separated from Moldova before the fall of Soviet rule in 1990. Since then, the region has lived in relative peace with the independent 'Moldovan State. The region has never been recognized internationally and attempts to return it under Moldovan control are largely ineffective.

Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, is governed by a president and a government that are committed to joining Europe by 2030. The country has switched to European gas sources from Russian ones. (Reporting and writing by Alexander Tanas; editing by Sonali Paul.)

(source: Reuters)