Moldova relies solely on Russia’s Gazprom for natural gas imports and is heavily dependent on Russian energy.
Moldova warned its people today to prepare for a harsh winter, as it faces an “acute” energy crisis that risks fueling unrest as Russia’s war in Ukraine threatens its energy supplies while prices rise.
Some 50 countries and institutions met in Paris today to pledge aid to Moldova as fears grow that it could be further destabilized by the conflict in Ukraine.
“This war endangers the supply of electricity and natural gas. We are not sure we can find enough … to heat and light our homes, and even if we find, the prices are unapproachable for our people and our economy. This could endanger our social peace and security,” said the country’s president, Maya Sandu, in her address to the meeting’s delegates.
“I know that everyone in Europe is paying very high prices for energy, but those same prices have far more devastating effects on our country and our people.”
Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, has felt the effects of rising food and energy prices and thousands of refugeesn arriving in the country of about 2.5 million people, which has taken in more Ukrainian refugees per capita than any other country.
Although it has strong historical and linguistic ties with neighboring Romania, which is a member of the European Union, Moldova relies solely on Russia’s Gazprom for natural gas imports and is heavily dependent on Russian energy.
With the arrival of winter and Moscow reducing its natural gas supplies by around 40%, it is doubtful whether it will be able to provide sufficient electricity to its population.
At donor conferences held in Berlin and Bucharest earlier this year, aid pledges of €659 million and €615 million were made, respectively. However, officials attending the conferences said the numbers included some repeated promises, project funding and promises to inject money into the economy instead of direct fiscal support.
A diplomatic source attending the conference said there were not many new pledges, but speaking to delegates, French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would provide an additional 100 million euros in aid to help Moldova’s immediate needs.
“We must not succumb to war fatigue or the idea that this will end quickly,” Macron said, pledging to help Moldova tackle its serious problems.
Germany had pledged about 32.5 million euros for renewable energy, infrastructure and aid to refugees, diplomatic sources said.
“We will not leave Moldova alone in the cold or in the dark, nor in a looming recession,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock told reporters.
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