The Cuciurgan power station (Romanian: Termocentrala de la Cuciurgan, Russian: Молдавская ГРЭС, romanized: Moldavskaya GRES), the largest power station of Moldova, is located in Dnestrovsc, Transnistria, on the shores of the Cuciurgan Reservoir bordering Ukraine. Commissioned on 26 September 1964, the facility produced as of 2021 about 79% of Moldova's electricity.[1]

Technical features

The power stations has installed capacity of 2,520 MW. It is fueled by natural gas, fuel oil and coal.[2] The plant produces some 75% of Moldova's electricity needs.[3] 51% owned by Inter RAO UES since 2005, in November 2008, Inter RAO UES and Moldelectrica signed an agreement to separate some power units in the power station from the IPS/UPS system and synchronize them with the synchronous grid of Continental Europe in Romania through the 400 kV Kuchurhan–Vulcănești and Vulcănești–Isaccea transmission lines.[4]

Operation

The power station is operated by Moldavskaya GRES, a 100% subsidiary of Russian owned Inter RAO UES.[5] It is the largest power company in an area comprising Moldova and southern Ukraine. The company exports power to Ukraine, Romania and Russia. It was privatized in 2004 by Transnistrian authorities, but official Moldova does not recognize this privatization.[6]

Debt liability

The Cuciurgan power station owes an estimated $9 billion to Gazprom in 2022 as it has not paid for gas usage for over 15 years.[7]

Planned termination of sales to Moldova

In November 2022 the power station ceased supplying Moldova with electricity after Russia reduced gas supplies.[8] Recommenced in early 2023, by May 2023 Moldova announced it would no longer be buying electricity from the Cuciurgan power station once a high-voltage power line from Romania is installed, scheduled for 2025.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Technical-economic indicators regarding the activity of the operator of the transport system for the year 2021". ÎS Moldelectrica (in Romanian).
  2. ^ "Assets Management - Inter RAO UES". Inter RAO UES. Archived from the original on 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  3. ^ Russia's war in Ukraine could be bad news for Moldova's energy ambitions, DW.com, 2022-03-10, retrieved 2022-09-09
  4. ^ "Moldova and Russia agree to raise power exports to Romania". Reporter.md. Moldova.org. 2008-11-17. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  5. ^ "Moldavskaya Gas Fired Power Plant, Moldova". 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  6. ^ Moldovan Privatization Law Completion[permanent dead link] (in Romanian)
  7. ^ "Moldova Audit Reveals Fraud Worth 100 Million Euros at Moldovagaz". 26 January 2023.
  8. ^ "EU announces additional €200m energy support package for Moldova". 10 November 2022.
  9. ^ ""In 2025, we will cut off the "independence" of Transnistria due to non-payment. If Moscow doesn't do it earlier"". 26 June 2023.

External links