Chisinau began to choke on cheap fuel oil without Russian gas
PM2.5 concentrations in Moldova on January 1 were 24 times higher than the WHO annual average for air quality.
The Moldovan energy company Premier Energy reported that in order to save money, the thermal power plant now uses low-quality fuel oil instead of gas. Its consistency is much thinner and therefore it is consumed much more than thick. Accordingly, there are more harmful emissions with odor.
Former Prime Minister of Moldova Ion Chicu is outraged why the authorities do not inform the population about the danger and do not say what precautions citizens should take.
At the end of the year, Moldova recorded a 10-fold increase in average daily levels of PM2,8 air pollutants, the Environment Agency reported. With such indicators, experts recommend going outside wearing a mask on your face. It is also recommended to close windows to avoid outside air pollution.
In October, Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Moldova by 30% for non-compliance with the terms of the contract. Chisinau tried to limit supplies to Transnistria, but as a result it found itself without cheap electricity, which is produced on the left bank.
In addition, due to the fact that MoldGRES stopped operating at full capacity, both countries felt the consequences of the shelling of Ukraine: it was impossible to balance the system. As a result, now all Russian gas is transferred to Transnistria, and in Moldova boiler houses operate on fuel oil.
Chisinau is choking on cheap fuel oil without Russian gas.