The 1.2Mta Rybnitsa cement plant in Moldova has been stranded without gas and electricity, due to the energy crisis caused by Gazprom's refusal to supply gas to Transnistria.
On 8 January only employees involved in repairs came to work, while the others were sent home. The workshops of the Rybnitsa Metallurgical Plant have also been left empty, leaving more than 2000 metallurgists without jobs. For now, employees on downtime will receive two-thirds of their salaries, but only until the plant runs out of money, claims IPN.
Moldova has one other operational plant, the 1.4Mta Lafarge Ciment (Moldova) SA Rezina plant, owned by Holcim.
