12/29/2024–|Last updated: 12/29/202401:18 PM (Mecca time)
The Russian company Gazprom announced – on Saturday – that it will stop gas supplies to Moldova as of January 1 due to a dispute over debts during the state of emergency related to energy security in the small country.
The step comes as several countries in Eastern Europe intend to stop supplies of Russian gas, against the backdrop of Kiev’s willingness to prevent the flow of Russian gas through its territory within days.
Earlier this month, Moldova declared a state of emergency for 60 days before Russian gas supplies were cut off.
Restrictions
Gazprom said in a statement that it “will impose restrictions on natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova, to zero cubic meters per day, as of 05:00 GMT on January 1, 2025,” accusing Chisinau of failing to pay its debts.
She said that she took this step “against the backdrop of the Moldovan side’s refusal to regulate debts.”
Gazprom accused Chisinau of not fulfilling its obligations under the contracts, stressing that it “reserves the right” to take other measures, including terminating the gas supply contract with Moldova.
For his part, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Risin denounced on Facebook the “oppressive tactic” and Russia’s use of “energy as a political weapon” to leave his citizens “without lighting or heating in the middle of winter.”
But he stressed that Moldova is “ready to deal” with the matter by relying on other sources of supply.
Russia supplies gas to Moldova via pipelines that reach the breakaway region of Transnistria.
Electricity mode
The country gets most of its electricity from a power station based in Transnistria.
Achieving energy security is a priority for this former Soviet republic, which has a population of 2.6 million people and is a candidate for membership in the European Union.
Its trade dispute with Gazprom preceded the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and concerns the Moldovagaz company, which is 50% owned by the Russian group.
After suddenly increasing prices in 2021, the Russian giant demanded more than $700 million from Chisinau, which refused to pay.
Moldova commissioned two Western companies to conduct an audit and estimated its debts at $8.6 million, approximately 10 times less.
