Moldova will ship the first 3 mcm gas to breakaway regions on Saturday, says company

A Moldovan official in the industry said that the country will be sending 3 million cubic meters (mcms) of gas on Saturday to its separatist Transdniestria. This is the first fuel delivery to the region since the end of December, when the gas transit through Ukraine ceased.

The morning delivery is to be made to the Transdniestrian Gas System, which already has a gas shortage to maintain pressure.

Vadim Ceban, CEO of Moldovagaz, said that the contract between Tiraspoltransgaz and Moldovagaz stipulates that this amount of gas will be provided to Tiraspoltransgaz as a debt due by March 1, 2025.

Since Jan. 1, Gazprom, the Russian gas company, has stopped exporting gas to the region. It cited a Moldovan debt that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid of $709 millions.

Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on pro-Western Moldova, and Ukraine. They refused to extend the five-year transit agreement that expired on December 31, claiming that the proceeds were used to fund Russia's invasion.

Gazprom has refused to supply gas to Moldova despite having a contract in place and an option to use a different transit route. This is to undermine the government before this year's elections.

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The European Union will pay for a greater gas supply. It has issued 31.14 million euros to Transdniestria & Moldova in order to heat their homes and provide electricity.

Alexandru Slusar is a member of Energocom's Administrative Board. He said that Chisinau will spend 10 million Euros to purchase electricity in Romania and 20 million Euros to buy gas to Transdniestria.

Sources in the Moldovan industry said that Tiraspol will buy gas at an average of 3 mcm a day from Energocom, and Moldovagaz will deliver this gas into the Transdniestrian firm Tiraspoltransgaz.

After February 10, it is unclear how the region that has received free gas from Russia since decades will continue to receive gas.

(source: Reuters)