"Gazprom" will stop gas supplies to Moldova from January 1 due to debts

Russian energy company Gazprom will stop supplies to Moldova because of the country's debts. This was reported in the press service of the organization on 28 December.

It was specified that JSC "Moldovagaz" was sent a notice of non-fulfillment of regular payments under the existing contract with "Gazprom" due to the refusal of the Moldovan side to settle debts on supplies.

"In this regard, based on the provisions of the contract and applicable norms of the Russian legislation, PJSC Gazprom imposes a restriction on natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova to 0 cubic meters per day from 8:00 Moscow time on January 1, 2025," the notice published in its Telegram channel said.

"Gazprom has reserved all rights, including unilateral termination of the contract with Moldovagaz and the demand for compensation for losses and payment of fines for failure to fulfill obligations under the contract, the press service specified."

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"Gazprom and Moldovagaz signed a five-year contract for gas supplies in the fall of 2021. It stipulated payment by Chisinau of the debt for supplies in the past few years. The entire volume was estimated at $709 million, of which Chisinau officially recognizes only $8.6 million.

On November 28, 2024, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Moldova 1 TV channel that the country "does not have a debt of $709 million to Gazprom". The discussion intensified against the background of Ukraine's intention to stop the transit of Russian gas through its territory. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova advised Moldova to pay for Russian gas and not to invent stories about alleged blackmail by Russia.

Since December 16, a state of emergency regime has been in effect in Moldova due to the possible cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. On December 6, a state of emergency was also introduced in Transnistria due to the situation in the energy sector.

At the beginning of December, according to the local newspaper Ziarul de Gardă, Recean insisted on the introduction of a state of emergency in Transnistria because of the situation in the energy sector, and also demanded the resignation of Energy Minister Victor Parlicov, as well as the head of the state-owned company Energocom, Victor Bynzar, and a member of the supervisory board of Moldovagaz, Serghei Tofilat.

On August 27, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (whose term of office expired on May 20) said that the country would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on 5 September that Russia was not giving up gas transit through Ukraine. According to the head of state, Gazprom plans to fulfill all its obligations under long-term contracts.