Gazprom cuts gas to Moldova, pro‑Russian crisis deepens
Gazprom will cease supplying natural gas to the Moldovan company Moldovagaz in 2025, which will "plunge pro-Russian Transnistria into the cold," writes "Gazeta Wyborcza" on Tuesday. The energy crisis will pose a significant challenge for Chișinău in the year of parliamentary elections.
The Moldovan government recently ordered the nationalisation of Moldovagaz, whose main shareholder is Gazprom. Russia is not holding back in its confrontation with the pro-Western authorities in Chișinău. The energy giant will stop supplying gas from 1 January 2025 to the Moldovan company.
As "Gazeta Wyborcza" notes, this move is a particular blow to pro-Russian Transnistria, which is dependent on supplies from Russia. The remainder of the country has managed to diversify its energy sources.
Poland has also played a role in reducing Moldova's dependency on Russian gas. "Polish PGNiG rushed in support, breaking Gazprom's monopoly on gas supplies to Moldova for the first time in history," the newspaper recalls.
Alleged debts to Gazprom
The Russian company will cut off supplies because Gazprom believes that the Moldovan corporation owes $433 million (with interest totalling $709 million) for previous deliveries. Chișinău disputes this valuation.
Through a tender, Moldova commissioned an audit concerning the debt. A Norwegian law firm and an international consultancy conducted it. The audit determined that the potential debt amounts to $8.6 million. Gazprom remains firm in its stance, and there is more at play in this issue.
"Moscow deliberately aims to trigger an energy crisis in Moldova. Freezing the residents of Transnistria will present a challenge for Chișinău. This is especially significant given that next year, parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova, where pro-Russian political groups will attempt to return to power," writes "Gazeta Wyborcza".