Vadim Cheban, chairman of the Moldovan-Russian energy company Moldovagaz, raised questions about the audit results concerning the company’s debt to Gazprom released by the Moldovan government.
He argued that the publicly disclosed figure of 8.6 million dollars was misleading. He noted that the total debt accumulated by JSC Thermoelectrica and JSC CHP-Nord for natural gas supplied to Moldovagaz stands at 46 million dollars. Documents supporting this debt exist, and he said the status of the company would be clarified in a written statement.
On the morning of September 6, the Moldovan Cabinet presented an audit report prepared by firms NorWay Wikborg Rein Advokatfirma AS and British Forensic Risk Association & Co. It claimed Gazprom was offered 8.6 million dollars, a sum that accounted for less than 1% of the overall 709 million dollar debt, with 433 million dollars listed as principal and the remainder as interest on late payments. (Source: official audit summary and government briefing.)
The country’s Energy Minister, Viktor Parlikov, announced that Gazprom and Moldovagaz did not provide documents to support 276 million dollars of debt, while another 400 million dollars could not be recovered due to the statute of limitations. (Statement from the Ministry of Energy.)
Possibility of litigation
In response to the audit results, Gazprom rejected the Moldova government’s proposed 8.6 million dollar payment and signaled readiness to defend its rights by any lawful means. The holding company rejected the audit as invalid because it was not approved by Moldovagaz’s supervisory board, contradicting the current agreement. The company contends that the auditor was chosen unilaterally by the Moldovan Council of Ministers, with Gazprom and Moldovagaz not participating. The holding asserts that the auditor’s conclusions cannot change the size or validity of the debt, since the debt amount is consistently confirmed in documents signed by both parties and in international arbitration decisions. (Industry briefing and corporate statements.)
Late on September 7, Energy Minister Parlikov stated that Gazprom would likely face defeat in court if Moldova’s historic debts are pursued, according to reports from progress-focused Moldovan portals such as JournalTV. He added that even arbitration decisions made between 2008 and 2020 cannot be enforced after three years. (Parlikov remarks and JournalTV coverage.)
Where did the debt come from?
Gazprom and Moldovagaz entered into a five-year gas supply agreement in 2011, which was later extended in 2016 and 2021. The Russian company agreed to renew the agreement on the condition that Moldova repay the 709 million dollar debt from prior periods, and Gazprom demanded timely payment for future deliveries. Moldova signed an agreement to confirm the debt amount through an independent audit. In November 2022 the Moldovan State Audit Office reported a debt of 590.8 million dollars after auditing the books. Moldova cited unresolved issues with non-recognition of Pridnestrovie, alleging non-payment for materials over several years. (Audit office findings and government summaries.)
Gazprom warned in November 2022 that it might reduce supplies to Moldova due to unsettled accounts. In December, Moldova briefly suspended gas deliveries from Russia, and in March the Moldovan authorities stated intentions to renew the agreement. Moldova’s Prime Minister later indicated a shift away from dependence on Russian gas and toward connection with the European energy grid. (Historical timeline and governmental statements.)