Moldova to activate EU civil protection mechanism

Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Moldova plans to request a 125 MW gas turbine power plant for Termoelectrica from international partners.

Additionally, the country will request 100 generators for social, medical, and educational institutions. This decision was made by Moldova's National Commission for Emergency Situations.

What is the EU Civil Protection Mechanism?

According to publicly available sources, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was established by the European Commission in October 2001. It aims to strengthen cooperation among EU countries and 10 participating states in civil protection to improve disaster prevention, preparedness, and response.

In case of an emergency, any country can request assistance through the mechanism. The European Commission plays a key role in coordinating disaster response globally, covering at least 75% of transport and operational costs.

Ukraine joined the program in November 2023.

Energy crisis in Moldova

On January 1, Russia’s Gazprom announced the suspension of gas supplies to Moldova. Moldova had been receiving Russian gas under a contract with Gazprom valid until November 2026.

All Russian gas was directed to the temporarily occupied Transnistria, where it was used for power generation at the Moldova power station and for household needs.

After the halt in Russian gas supplies, Chișinău began purchasing electricity on European markets, leading to higher tariffs for electricity, heating, and gas.

In Transnistria, the gas situation is more critical: heating has been cut off, rolling power outages have begun, and nearly all industrial enterprises, except food production facilities, have shut down.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that Ukraine is ready to assist Moldova in resolving the energy crisis in Transnistria, including the provision of coal.