Chisinau will not interfere with Gazprom's supplies to Transnistria

Moldova will not interfere with the supply of Russian gas to Transnistria after the end of Gazprom's gas transit contract with Ukraine, which expires on January 1, 2025.

This is reported on the website of the Moldovan Ministry of Energy in materials on the country's preparation for the heating season as part of public consultations, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

It is noted that there are two possible scenarios for the behavior of the Russian concern Gazprom after the expiration of the contract for the transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine on January 1, 2025.

"One of the scenarios assumes that the Russian side will look for alternative routes for gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, taking into account Gazprom's contractual obligations to Moldovagaz. In this case, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova will not interfere with the further supply of natural gas from Moldovagaz to Tiraspoltransgaz," the publication says.

In the second scenario, if Gazprom stops supplying natural gas, the Ministry of Energy will consider the phased introduction of several measures to mitigate the consequences of this decision. "However, even if Gazprom stops supplying natural gas, the Ministry estimates that there will be no gas shortage for consumers on the right bank, and no need to disconnect consumers with continuous operation," the materials say.

The Ministry of Energy is confident that, if necessary, Energocom JSC (a Moldovan state-owned company that supplies gas to Moldovagaz - IF-U) can ensure the supply of the necessary amount of gas to protected/vulnerable categories of consumers in the Transnistrian region through Tiraspoltransgaz LLC for the appropriate payment of the cost of gas purchases.

Under this option, the Ministry notes the risks to the ability of consumers to pay for gas at market prices.

The ministry also states that in order to ensure electricity supply to the right bank of the Dniester, in a pessimistic scenario, it will be necessary to increase electricity imports from the EU and increase the capacity of the border with Romania.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 02/08/2024