Residents from Bălți complain that they cannot find wood for fire in the cold season. People claim that they have to live in cold, as most wholesale bases lack wood stocks.

According to sellers, the crisis is caused by the fact that in the North of Moldova people have not yet begun cutting fitting wood.

Ana Siminciuc and her two children must cram in a single room, as there is nothing she could use to warm up the whole house, therefore, she uses a heater.

"Each time they say that today they are out of stock and to come back the next day, only to be given the same response again" Bălţi town resident Ana Siminciuc declared.

Other residents of the town also face this issue. Even if they manage to find wood, they have to dig deep into their pockets.

Entrepreneurs admit that the lack of goods caused prices to raise by 15-20%.

"There is not much wood this year. The prices rose. Oak is sold with 1 000 lei, while cherry with 850 lei. People have not yet begun harvesting forests. When goods will start flowing in, we will also have what to sell, but we do not know when it will happen" wood trader, Vadim Nisterovici said.

Representatives from “Princely Forest” nature reserve assure that soon they will begun cutting down wood.

"Last week we received authorization from Ecology Inspectorate and the founder, Moldsilva Agency. Now we train the staff and once down will begin harvesting the forest" employee Valeriu Svistun announced.

A lack in firewood is also explained by the fact that illegal cutting have ceased.

One cubic metre in Bălți costs between 800 and 1 200 lei, with 150 lei more than a month ago.