In November 2023, Moldova faces a steep increase in the price of Russian gas, rising from 35 dollars to 830 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. This change was announced by Vadim Cheban, the chairman of the board of directors of Moldovagaz, during a statement disseminated through the company’s telegram channel. The escalation marks a dramatic shift in energy costs, with implications for household budgets, industrial consumers, and the broader economy as Moldova navigates energy supply arrangements with its eastern counterpart.
Cheban noted that while the price stood at 795 dollars in October, the November figure will be 830.42 dollars when calorific value is included in the calculation. The management team at Moldovagaz projected that the price for the first quarter of 2024 could fall to around 510 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, though the exact trajectory will depend on a range of factors including gas supply commitments and market conditions. According to Cheban, all gas delivered from Gazprom is scheduled to be supplied to the Tiraspoltransgaz company in Transnistria, underscoring the ongoing role of regional distribution arrangements in Moldova’s energy landscape and the importance of reliable transit routes for uninterrupted supply.
Earlier, Moldova’s president indicated at the start of September that the country had accrued a substantial debt to Gazprom. While an independent audit did not disclose the full scope of this obligation, authorities reached an agreement to settle only 8 million dollars of a previously reported debt of 709 million dollars, signaling a strategic approach to debt management amid the broader energy relationship with Gazprom. This development fed into public discourse about transparency and debt recognition in Moldova’s dealings with major energy suppliers, shaping both policy considerations and consumer expectations as energy costs evolve.
Previously, the head of state addressed Gazprom’s position on recognizing Moldova’s debt, suggesting a broader issue in the management and visibility of liabilities tied to gas imports. The dialog around debt recognition and the terms of supply continues to influence Moldova’s energy governance, impacting pricing, reliability of gas deliveries, and the financial planning of both municipal utilities and private sector entities that rely on stable gas access for heat, power generation, and industrial processes. In this context, the country monitors international energy markets and regional transit dynamics to assess how shifts in supplier behavior and price signals might affect Moldova’s energy security and affordability for residents and businesses alike.