Moldova's Bălți Power Plant: A Nostalgic Journey Through Modernization

Bălți's Heat Source: A Thermal Power Plant's Transformation Bălți, Moldova – The city's thermal power plant, CET-Nord, is more than just a source of heat; it's a historical landmark and a symbol of the city's industrial past and modernizing present. A recent video by local resident Федор Щербаков offers a unique glimpse into the plant's operations and ongoing transformation. The video highlights CET-Nord's prominent chimneys, visible from across the city. "You can see that big chimney from anywhere in Bălți," Щербаков observes in the video, highlighting its significance in the city's landscape. The video then details the extensive renovations undertaken since the late 1990s, showcasing new boilers, turbines, and generators. This modernization reflects a broader trend of industrial upgrades in Moldova. The video also reveals the plant's role in heating over 132,000 apartments. Щербаков notes that while the plant primarily uses natural gas, it maintains reserve capacity using fuel oil. This information is valuable in understanding the city's energy infrastructure and its resilience to potential energy supply disruptions. The video concludes with a nostalgic reflection on the plant's past and its future, highlighting the changes in the workforce and the plant's ongoing modernization. The transformation of CET-Nord mirrors the evolution of Bălți itself, from an industrial center to a city embracing modern technologies while preserving its history.