Moldovan Metallurgical Plant in Transnistria to Cease Operations

MMZ in Rybnitsa has gone into downtime, leaving over 2,000 employees without work. The cessation of Russian gas supplies to Transnistria, which began on January 1, has led to the cessation of industrial activities.
In January, MMZ planned to produce 17,500 tons of finished products.
In December, the plant was still partially operational, producing steel products. However, the energy crisis forced the electric arc furnace, which consumes 95 MW per hour, to stop operating. Continuing its operation would have meant a power outage throughout the republic.
MMZ General Director Sergey Kornev said that “After such events, it is practically impossible to restart the plant in a short time,” he noted in an interview with a local TV channel.
The shutdown of the plant has serious consequences for both MMZ and the economy of Transnistria. MMZ, which sells its products on the European market, is now unable to fulfill orders, and regular customers are forced to look for other suppliers.