Headline:
‘Gazprom‘ Halts Gas Supplies to Moldova amid Dispute
Subheading:
Moscow-based energy giant ‘Gazprom’ has announced it will stop gas supplies to Moldova from January 1, 2025, citing unpaid bills and disagreements over debt totals. Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean has accused Russia of using energy as a political weapon.
Byline:
A.B. News Editor
Article:
‘Gazprom’, Russia’s state-owned energy giant, has escalated its gas dispute with Moldova by announcing the complete halt of gas supplies to the small European nation from the first day of 2025. The move comes amidst an ongoing row over unpaid bills and discordant debt totals between the two countries.
"Given the regular non-payment of gas bills by the Moldovan side and the accrued debt, PAO ‘Gazprom’ deems it necessary to fully suspend gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova starting at 08:00 Moscow time on January 1, 2025," reads the statement from the Russian company.
‘Gazprom’ maintains that Moldova’s debt amounts to US$709 million, while the Moldovan government acknowledges only US$8.6 million, citing the results of an international audit conducted by British and Norwegian firms. The Russian company has rejected these findings.
Thecada, the Moldovan gas company, has stated that it has secured sufficient gas supplies from other sources and regional markets to cover right-bank Moldova’s needs until the end of March 2025. However, this does not include gas supplies for the left-bank region, known as Transnistria or Република Приднестровие (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic), a self-proclaimed and unrecognized state that is heavily reliant on Russian gas supplies.
Prime Minister Recean has responded to the ‘Gazprom’ decision by suggesting that Russia is using energy as a political weapon against Moldova. "Russia is using energy as a tool of political pressure. Moldova is now considering its legal options, including international arbitration," he said in a Facebook post.
Moldova has been increasingly leaning towards the West since the election of the pro-European President Maia Sandu in 2020. This shift has led to a series of disputes with Russia, including the current gas row and Moscow’s recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of Transnistria in 2020.
The impact of the ‘Gazprom’ decision on Transnistria could be significant, as the region has been heavily dependent on Russian gas supplies. The Moldovan government has suggested that Russia’s actions are aimed at putting pressure on the Moldovan government and destabilizing the country.
As the gas dispute between Russia and Moldova continues, the future of gas supplies to Moldova and the impact on the country’s energy security remain uncertain. The Moldovan government has stated that it is committed to finding a solution to the dispute, while also pursuing its pro-European agenda.
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