Moldova names new Energy Minister

Dorin Dzungietu, a gas industry expert from Moldova, was appointed as the country's new Energy Minister by President Maia Sandu on Wednesday morning. He was sworn into office at the Presidential Office.

Junghietu replaced Viktor Parlicov who was fired in December after failing to prepare for a possible stoppage of gas supplies for Moldova's separatist Transdniestria due to Ukraine refusing to extend their transit agreement with Russia.

Sandu stated that "we must increase energy security in our state to ensure that Moldovans are not blackmailed" by others.

Sandu accused Gazprom in December of creating an energy crisis in Moldova by refusing to provide gas via an alternative route.

Transdniestria's residents experienced daily rolling blackouts for four to five minutes throughout January, as the gas remaining in its pipelines ran out.

After more than one month without gas the pro-Russian area began to receive the fuel. First with the help from the European Union, and then a Russian Loan. (Reporting and writing by Alexander Tanas; editing by Angus MacSwan).

(source: Reuters)