Cuciurgan power station

The gas-fired Cuciurgan power station, the largest power station in Moldova, is located in Transnistria, on the shores of the Cuciurgan Reservoir bordering Ukraine. As of 2024^[update] it generates over three quarters of Moldova's electricity.^[1] Commissioned in 1964, it formerly burned some coal and fuel oil.^[2]

Cuciurgan power station
Official name	Moldavskaya GRES
Country	Moldova
Location	Dnestrovsc, Transnistria
Coordinates	46°38′3″N 29°56′20″E
Status	Operational
Commission date	26 September 1964 (1964-09-26)
Owner	Inter RAO
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Natural gas, fuel oil, coal
Power generation
Units operational	12
Nameplate capacity	2,520 MW
External links
Website	moldgres.com
Commons	Related media on Commons

Technical features

The power stations has installed capacity of 2,520 MW. It was originally fueled by natural gas, fuel oil and coal.^[3] The plant produces some 75% of Moldova's electricity needs.^[4] 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.^[5]

Operation

The power station is operated by Moldavskaya GRES, a 100% subsidiary of Russian owned Inter RAO UES.^[6] 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.^[7] On 31 December 2024, at 19:50 EET (17:50 UTC), Moldova's unrecognized breakaway region of Transnistria stopped receiving natural gas supplies from Russia when Ukraine's gas transit deal with Russia expired. Historically, Transnistria had covered most of Moldova's electricity needs through the Cuciurgan power station, which functioned with Russian gas supplied to Transnistria for free. However, with the termination of Russian gas supplies to Transnistra and the end of Moldovan purchases of Transnistrian electricity, the possibility of a humanitarian crisis in Transnistra has risen. Three people have died in Transnistria since the start of the energy crisis due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Electricity prices have also risen significantly in Moldova.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[8]

Planned termination of sales to Moldova

In November 2022 the power station ceased supplying Moldova with electricity after Russia reduced gas supplies.^[9] 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.^[10]