Moldova’s Energy Ministry announced that negotiations with Gazprom over the historic debt have reached a deadlock. This was reported by RIA Novosti.
According to the publication, the Russian company expects to pay more than $700 million, while Chisinau is ready to accept only $9 million in debt. The Moldovan side insists on an audit covering the period from 1991 to 2021.
Moldovan Energy Minister Viktor Parlikov noted that Gazprom did not include Chisinau’s proposals on the agenda for discussion. “There is no progress on this issue anymore, there is no dialogue,” Parlikov said.
Despite the disagreements, gas supplies to Moldova continue. Every day, 5.7 million cubic meters of fuel destined for Pridnestrovie enter the country. Tiraspol replaces gas with electricity, and Chisinau buys the missing volumes on the spot market.
Deputy head of the National Energy Security Fund Alexey Grivach considers the actions of the Moldovan government to be wrong. According to him, the debt audit was carried out with violations, and Gazprom did not accept this.
Experts note that the issue of gas supply to Moldova is political in nature. Since the Moldovan State Regional Power Plant provides electricity to the regions controlled by Chisinau, maintaining the supply to Transnistria ensures stability in the region.
Moldovan authorities are considering alternative routes for gas supplies in case transit through Ukraine is stopped. Parlikov mentioned the possibility of using the Turkish Stream and the Trans-Balkan route.
At the end of August, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó named Ukraine’s statements about stopping the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba oil pipeline are contradictory, he said, stressing that Hungary continues to receive official signals that Kiev is fulfilling its obligations.
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