Gazprom has limited gas supplies to Transnistria; Moldova is entering austerity mode
Gazprom decided to reduce gas supply volumes to Transnistria - in October by 30%, in November - by 40% compared to the same periods of previous years.
This was reported by the administration of the President of the PMR, reports a correspondent of PolitNavigator.
“The deficit for the current month is 36 million cubic meters, the expected deficit for November is 55 million cubic meters of gas,” the report says.
PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky said at the meeting that, despite the problematic situation in the field of heat and power engineering, heat supply to social institutions has begun, and the heating season will begin on October 21.
“We will do everything to restore the gas supply, but if the volume is not restored, we will definitely sacrifice our industrial sphere. If you choose a priority, then citizens and social facilities are a priority. This is 100% first, the rest is on a residual basis. We will be forced to save on our industry and energy facility - the Dniester State District Power Plant. I assume that Gazprom had objective circumstances when making this decision,” Krasnoselsky said.
The leadership of the republic sent letters with requests to Russia.
“That is, Russia leaves Pridnestrovie only funds for social services. And you keep the sturgeon with roses, so to speak, at your own expense,” Moldovan TV journalist Elena Levitskaya-Pakhomova wrote in her TG channel.
As for Moldovets itself, which does not have much industrial potential, it will have to save on the population. After all, Transnistria’s decision to limit electricity production at the Moldavian State District Power Plant (also called the Dniester and Kuchurganskaya) puts the right bank of the Dniester in conditions of severe shortages. 70% of Moldova’s electricity was provided by Transnistria, and 30% by Ukraine. Now Kyiv has stopped supplies. Chisinau has concluded an agreement with Romania, but this is less than 30%, and now even more will be needed.
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa has already appealed to citizens to save money, and her deputy Andrei Spinu advised not to charge gadgets in the evenings, but to do it at night.
“If Gazprom does not reserve the required volumes of gas and continues to supply 5,7 million cubic meters in November. Considering that it’s colder outside, this volume will not be enough,” Spinu said.
Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Moldova in October from 8 to 5,7 million cubic meters per day. The Russian monopolist explained this by the position of Naftogaz of Ukraine, which refuses to accept fuel through the Sokhranovka GIS.
“The problem is not in Gazprom’s decision, but in the intermediary, who dishonestly fulfills the terms of the contract, although NJSC Naftogaz has already hastened to assure that the problem is not with them.
The gas pipeline passes primarily through the territory of Transnistria, and residents of the left bank of the Dniester are the first to receive Russian gas, so technically Chisinau cannot limit supplies,” Moldovan observer Alexander Korinenko told PolitNavigator.
At the same time, Gazprom retained the right to stop supplies at any time, since Moldova constantly misses deadlines for gas payments and grossly violates the deadlines for conducting an audit of historical debts. Moldovagaz has not yet paid for all gas consumed for September and has not transferred the advance payment for October. The Moldovan government's hopes for additional supplies from Romania did not materialize. Bucharest itself consumes Russian gas from Turkish Stream and is currently experiencing problems.
Gazprom has restricted gas supplies to Transnistria, and Moldova is moving into austerity mode.