With the recent
cutoff of Russian natural gas supplies to some countries in Eastern Europe,
there is a need to find other sources of gas as well as other sources of
energy. The country of Moldova has secured gas supplies from Europe but has
little to spare for the breakaway region of Transnistria, which received gas from
Russia before the cutoff.
Ukrainian president
Volodymir Zelensky recently met with Moldovan president Maia Sandu and announced
an offer to supply a Transnistrian power plant with Ukrainian coal at a joint
press conference. The plant currently burns about 200MW of anthracite coal. The
offer is for Ukrainian experts to convert the plant to burn bituminous coal and
up the amount burned closer to 2000MW with Ukraine supplying the coal for free
in return for receiving some of the electricity from the reconfigured plant. While
this is perhaps potential good news for Transnistria and Ukraine in terms of
electricity security, the lower-grade coal does mean that air pollution would increase.
Specifically, sulfur dioxide pollution would increase. According to The New
Voice of Ukraine:
"This is 10 times more than the current level. We
are ready to supply coal at a low price or even for free in exchange for
electricity for Ukraine and Moldova. This is fair: we supply coal, they have
electricity for themselves and all of Moldova, and we get the electricity
imports we need," Zelenskyy said, expressing concern about possible
Russian interference to use gas as leverage to influence the situation in the
region.
"Ukraine is ready to help, and we are very grateful
for this gesture. But now everything depends on the regime in Tiraspol. It is
important that the assistance offered reaches the people as soon as
possible," she said in Kyiv during the official visit on the day of
Zelenskyy's birthday.
Transnistria’s
leader Vadim Krasnoselsky was somewhat skeptical of the offer, calling it
speculative, according to The New Voice of Ukraine:
"These are speculative suggestions that they will
provide coal and so on. I’ll emphasise once again that our plant is
technologically fuelled by anthracite. Ukraine offers coal that is not suitable
for our plant. We have two coal blocks. They run on anthracite,"
Krasnoselsky said.
Although the Transnistrian leader noted that the
technical conversion of one of the power units to Ukrainian coal is possible,
he noted that under "normal conditions", which do not exist, the
process would take "more than a year and cost more than 50 million euros".
Anthracite burns much cleaner than bituminous coal but is
also much more expensive. It has a very high ignition temperature, burns
hotter, and produces less pollutants, but requires more plant maintenance. It
appears it would be easier to convert an anthracite plant to burn lower quality
coal than to convert from burning lower quality coal to burning anthracite.
Anthracite coal also produces more ash than other types of coal, so that would
be an advantage to the offer of conversion. As recently as a few years ago
around 130,000 homes in the U.S. were burning anthracite coal for heating. I spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania in the
2000s and 2010s and I remember bags of anthracite coal being commonly for sale.
Anthracite is produced in Eastern Pennsylvania so its local-ness makes it less
expensive there.
Moldova also
recently agreed to provide 3 million cubic meters (about 105 MMCF) of natural
gas to Transnistria. According to the Moscow Times:
“The move follows the European Commission’s pledge of an
emergency assistance package worth 30 million euros ($31.5 million) to Moldova.
The funds are intended to help restore electricity and heating in Transnistria
over the next two weeks.”
This is an emergency loan for gas and will not last very long. Transnistria
has had to shut down industrial operations that use natural gas until sufficient
gas supply can be secured. Moldova is also prepared to assist Transnistria in
accessing natural gas on the European market.
Zelensky also offered
to transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, although those supplies may be
limited. Several Eastern European countries including Hungary and Slovakia have
also been affected by the gas cutoff. Hungary’s president Orban is threatening to
block aid to Ukraine until Russian gas is restarted and has tried but that is unlikely
to happen.
References:
Ukraine
offers gas transit from Azerbaijan, sparking doubts. LOS. Essa News. January
25, 2025. Ukraine
offers gas transit from Azerbaijan, sparking doubts
Kyiv
offers energy lifeline and expertise to Moldova amid crisis. The New Voice of
Ukraine. January 27, 2025. Ukraine,
Moldova push for energy cooperation amid Transnistria crisis / The New Voice of
Ukraine
Transnistria
considers coal supplies from Ukraine in exchange for energy
"speculative". Artur Kryzhnyi. Ukrainska Pravda. January 27, 2025. Transnistria
considers coal supplies from Ukraine in exchange for energy
"speculative"
Moldova
Approves 3M Cubic Meter Gas ‘Loan’ to Transnistria. The Moscow Times. January
27, 2025. Moldova
Approves 3M Cubic Meter Gas ‘Loan’ to Transnistria
Disadvantages
Of Anthracite Coal And Common Problems – Is it Worth Buying? House, Home, and Garden.
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