Moldovagaz, the Moldova-based energy company with roots in both Moldova and Russia, has signaled that it can price gas supplied to the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic at current market levels. This arrangement would apply only if the recipient makes the payments in Moldovan leu rather than in foreign currencies. Vadim Cheban, who serves as the acting president of Moldovagaz, announced the development in a message published on the company’s Telegram channel, adding a practical note that the currency for settlement remains a key condition in any such arrangement.
Cheban recalled a concrete example from late 2021 through mid-2022, when the Transnistrian gas distributor Tiraspoltransgaz fulfilled all invoices for the transportation of additional gas volumes across Ukraine via Moldovagaz. The period demonstrated the feasibility of clearing transactions within a local currency framework and reinforced confidence that cross-border energy flows could continue smoothly under defined terms and local-settlement arrangements.
He emphasized that payments for gas purchases can indeed be made in Moldovan leu and that Tiraspoltransgaz has previously employed this method. That experience provides a practical precedent for how such settlements could operate in ongoing and future transactions, reducing exposure to exchange-rate fluctuations and aligning with regulatory and financial realities of the region.
According to Cheban, the central issue in pursuing gas purchases from the Transnistrian company is not foreign exchange transactions per se but the attainment of a supply license that would authorize such imports. The licensing step is presented as the gating factor to enable a more integrated supply chain between Moldovagaz and the Transnistrian gas distributor, rather than simply a currency question.
“JSC Moldovagaz is ready to purchase natural gas for Tiraspoltransgaz at market prices, subject to payment for the supply in Moldovan leu,” the acting president stated in the public briefing. This acknowledgment signals a willingness to anchor pricing in market dynamics while preserving a local-currency settlement framework, which could foster stability in cross-border gas flows and support regional energy security goals.
On the morning of January 1, Gazprom announced a suspension of gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine. The move reverberated through Moldova, and in Transnistria the disruption led to stoppages across a broad swath of industrial activity. The interruption underscored the vulnerability of regional energy networks to upstream decisions and the importance of diversified routes, reliable transit partners, and clear regulatory pathways to maintain continuity of supply for domestic and industrial users alike.
January 8 saw Sergei Obolonik, the Minister of Economic Development for the Republic, report that gas reserves in Transnistria were sufficient for domestic needs for only about 24 days. This finding highlighted the tighter balance between supply and demand in the breakaway region and the urgency of stabilizing imports and transit arrangements to prevent broader economic disruptions in the near term.
Earlier comments from Kremlin representatives touched on the energy crisis impacting Transnistria, signaling heightened concern at the highest levels about the regional energy security picture and the implications for neighboring markets and consumers. The dialogue emphasized the interconnected nature of energy flows in the region and the need for coordinated, transparent actions to mitigate risk as global energy dynamics continue to shift.