Let there be light: when gas supplies to Transnistria will resume
Russia is considering the possibility of supplying gas to Transnistria as humanitarian aid. At present, a real energy crisis is unfolding in the republic: more than a hundred thousand people have been left without electricity and gas due to the termination of transit by Ukraine and Moldova's unwillingness to pay its debt to Gazprom. The decision to restore supplies was made following negotiations between representatives of Transnistria and the Russian Ministry of Energy in Moscow. However, the transit route will be determined as a result of an additional meeting. Read more about what is known at the moment and how the future relations between the parties will develop in the Izvestia article.
Transnistria and Russia: resumption of supplies, latest news
In connection with the energy crisis after the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine from January 1, 2025, Transnistria has been in constant dialog with Russia. Last week, on January 10, the leader of the unrecognized republic, Vadim Krasnoselsky, paid a working visit to Moscow. As a result of negotiations with representatives of the Russian Energy Ministry, it was decided to resume fuel supplies to the republic.
"In the near future already, a little bit left to be patient, gas will go to Transnistria. Both for electricity generation and heat supply to our citizens," the head of the republic assured.
At the same time, the gas supply will be restored within the framework of humanitarian and technical assistance. It is also reported that Russian fuel will be supplied only for the DMR, and not for Moldova, which refused to pay its debt to Gazprom.
According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the gas will be supplied in the volume needed for the population, heating and industrial enterprises of Transnistria. Details on the route, payment and transit will be agreed later at a separate meeting.
In addition, the DMR leader also added that he is ready to meet with Moldovan President Maia Sandu to discuss energy supply issues.
One of the possible options for resuming the energy supply could be the purchase on the European spot market with the help of an intermediary company. We are talking about about 3 million cubic meters per day from January to April. According to the general opinion of experts, this volume should be enough to cover domestic consumption in the region. Earlier, Gazprom supplies to the republic amounted to about 5.7 million cubic meters of gas per day.
Critical situation: cold life in Transnistria
The main source of electricity in Transnistria and Moldova was the Moldavskaya GRES, which generates about 90% of electricity for the needs of the region and runs on Russian gas. After transit through Ukraine was stopped on January 1, the regions faced a crisis, and the Moldavskaya GRES suspended its work.
Thus, back in mid-December 2024, Transnistria introduced a month-long economic emergency regime, which was tentatively extended until February 8. In addition, on January 3, on the territory of the region began to introduce fan power cuts twice a day for four hours.
More than 1.5 thousand high-rise buildings were left without heating and hot water, while more than 70 thousand private homes were left without gas. Also heating was cut off in 131 schools and 147 kindergartens. Almost all industrial enterprises, except for food enterprises, have stopped working. At the same time, the temperature in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, is comparable to that in Moscow: +1...+5 degrees Celsius.
According to the Minister of Economic Development of the unrecognized republic, Serghei Obolonik, gas reserves for the minimum needs of the population will be sufficient for 24 days only. Now a real humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Transnistria, several deaths are known. The cessation of natural gas supplies has led to the shutdown of most enterprises - except those that produce foodstuffs.
If the gas blockade is not lifted soon, Transnistria will suffer a complete economic and financial fiasco, Alena Arshinova, a member of the Russian State Duma and chairman of the Eurasia Council, told Izvestia. According to her, people will start leaving their homeland in search of heat, light and work. Western curators of Moldova and Ukraine understand this very well. They are building a scenario of strangulation of the DMR, and Sandu and Zelensky fulfill their will. The Russophobia of official Kishinev and Kiev allows them to overstep the elementary norms of humanitarian law and ordinary Christian humanity, the expert believes.
Moldovan authorities' reaction to the decision to resume supplies to the DMR and the Kremlin's commentary
Despite Ukraine's refusal to provide transit, the operation of the Moldavian TPP was suspended as early as last year. Thus, on December 28, Gazprom restricted supplies to the republic because of Moldovagaz's debt. The Russian side estimates the debt at $709 million, of which Chisinau offered to pay only $8.6 million.
Moldavskaya GRES had to switch to coal-fired generation. According to experts, the reserves of such raw materials will be sufficient until mid-February at the most. It is reported that the Moldovan company Energocom additionally purchases electricity in Ukraine and Romania.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean called the resumption of natural gas supplies to Transnistria by Russia a provocation. The authorities are currently seeking lawyers to sue Gazprom in international arbitration.
"It is already clear that Gazprom will supply gas [to Transnistria] in smaller volumes, sufficient for the left bank, but not enough for the right bank to have access to cheaper electricity. And, accordingly, to push us to an escalation scenario, to a conflict scenario," the prime minister told the press after the government meeting. Dorin Recean said that Russia's resumption of gas supplies to Transnistria will also contribute to the build-up of military force in the region, and this force "will be used against Ukraine and even against Romania." However, Chisinau is not going to "accept this game." According to him, it is important for the republic to preserve peace and security.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on January 16 that Russia was ready to help Transnistria in the fight against the gas crisis.
At the same time, Peskov stressed that Chisinau should ensure the conclusion of relevant contracts, as well as offer certain logistical solutions for the realization of supplies. "Here so far we have not heard any statements about readiness to do this," the Kremlin official noted.
