Moldova is bracing for double-digit inflation this year amid an escalating energy crisis triggered by Gazprom PJSC’s decision to cut off gas supply to a key power-generating breakaway region, the country’s top central banker said.

Moldova has found a way to address the energy crisis by planning to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, News Maker reports. Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Moldova plans to request a 125 MW gas turbine power plant for Termoelectrica from international partners.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu recently visited areas experiencing rolling blackouts, attributing the energy crisis to Russian gas supplier Gazprom. The disruptions follow Gazprom's suspension of gas supplies to Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region,

In the capital of Transnistria, a Kremlin-backed microstate sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine, the festive New Year’s lights have gone dark ahead of schedule. This separatist sliver of Moldova will run out of energy in three weeks,

Alexander Slusar, a former member of the Moldovan parliament, a "representative of civil society" at Energocom, is confident that the Russian concern Gazprom will soon resume supplies to Transnistria.

The move was connected with, but not required by, the expiration at the end of 2024 of Russia’s contract with Ukraine for transit of natural gas to Europe. The looming energy crisis is likely to have a strong negative effect on Moldova’s ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) in parliamentary elections due in the second half of 2025.

Moldova's pro-European central government renewed its criticism of Russia, saying it caused the energy crisis and now wants to portray itself as the power that was coming to the separatist region's rescue.

Joint statement commends Moldovan authorities for their measures to ensure stability in gas, electricity supply under 'these challenging circumstances' - Anadolu Ajansı

The leader of Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria has travelled to Moscow for talks to resolve an energy crisis following the suspension of Russian gas deliveries, Transdniestria's news agency reported on Tuesday.