The breakaway region of Moldova, controlled by Moscow, has received gas from the Kremlin as a “humanitarian gesture”, while the rest of the country remains without supplies after Russia cut off gas on January 1, citing unpaid debts.
Separated region of Moldova Transnistria will receive gas from Russia Kremlin-backed separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said on Wednesday that it was considered “humanitarian aid” but that the rest of the country would still not receive supplies from Moscow.
Both Moldova and Transnistria declared a state of emergency after the incident. Russia will cut gas supplies on January 1, The alleged indebtedness of $709 million (688 million euros) for previous supplies is a charge that the Moldovan Government categorically denies.
However, on Tuesday, Krasnoselsky said gas supplies to the region It will be restored after “negotiations” with the Russian Ministry of Energy. Krasnoselsky announced that supplies would be restored to provide “humanitarian and technical assistance” to Transnistria, but did not give a timeline for when this would happen.
Transnistria, where temperatures often drop below zero The state of emergency was extended last week Following the interruption of gas supply, almost all industrial activities were closed and there were power outages of up to eight hours a day.
Moldovan authorities declared a state of emergency on Monday due to concerns about gas shortages. triggering a humanitarian crisis In Transnistria, which declared its independence unilaterally and without international recognition after a brief war in 1992.
But the rest of Moldova We will continue to suffer from lack of energy. Gas supplies to the EU candidate country have been disrupted both because of what Moscow sees as outstanding debt and because of the expiration of a five-year agreement between Ukraine and Russia that prevented Kremlin gas from reaching Europe through Ukrainian territory.
A “transformed” flow of energy
The termination of the agreement will mainly affect the Kuciurgan power plant in Transnistria. producing electricity for all of Moldova. The plant was privatized in 2004 and later sold to a Russian state company, a process that Chisinau considers illegal.
In December, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said: The country faces an “exceptional situation” and accused Moscow, as well as Ukrainian and EU politicians, of deliberately “militarizing” energy flows.
Moldova’s pro-Western government counterattacked, stating: Has huge unpaid debts to Russian gas giant GazpromIt terminated its contract with Moldovagaz, Moldova’s main gas operator, whose majority shares are owned by the Russian company.
The government claims its debt is close to $8.6 million (€8.3 million), citing British and Norwegian auditing firms; This is a tiny fraction of the amount Gazprom accuses it of owing.
The Moldovan Administration initiated a series of measures. reduce energy consumption They include limiting lighting in public and commercial buildings by at least 30% starting January 1 and requiring companies with high energy consumption to operate during peak hours.
Rajan is also the country’s Diversification of gas supply continued It is natural that the dependence on the kuciurgan factory will decrease.