Crane to stop: Chisinau disrupts gas negotiations in Transnistria
Chisinau is disrupting meetings with representatives of Transdniestria at which the energy crisis could be discussed, the Foreign Ministry of the unrecognized republic has told Izvestiya. After the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine, the issue of supplying blue fuel to the DMR territory should be solved jointly with the Moldovan and Ukrainian leadership. However, Kiev opposes the pumping of Russian gas through its territory, so Moscow and Tiraspol are probably considering the option of purchasing on spot markets by third-country companies, experts say. After that, the gas will be redirected to the DMR. What other options are available and whether Chisinau will go for dialog - in the material of "Izvestia".
Energy crisis in Transnistria
Moldova is disrupting meetings with representatives of Transnistria to discuss the energy crisis, the Foreign Ministry of the unrecognized republic told Izvestia.
- Unfortunately, at the moment Chisinau, including its chief negotiator, demonstrates complete unpreparedness for adequate working communication, continuing to make irresponsible declarations and disrupting meetings within the framework of the negotiation process, in particular the meeting of political representatives, which was to be held on January 17," they said.
The crisis in Transnistria began after the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine on January 1. A real humanitarian disaster is unfolding there. More than 1.5 thousand high-rise buildings were left without heating and hot water, and more than 70 thousand private homes were left without gas. Heating was also cut off in 131 schools and 147 kindergartens. Students will be sent to distance learning after returning from the New Year vacations on January 20. In addition, almost all industrial enterprises, except for food enterprises, have stopped working. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development of the unrecognized republic Sergei Obolonik earlier said that the gas reserve for the daily needs of the population will be enough only for 24 days.
In addition, since January 1, the Moldavskaya GRES, located on the territory of the DMR, switched from gas to coal in generating electricity, which, however, only temporarily solves the energy problem, as coal reserves will be sufficient until mid-February at the most.
The DMR received gas from Russia for the operation of the Moldavskaya GRES, which provided the entire republic with electricity and also covered up to 80% of Moldova's demand for this resource.
Moscow's assistance to Transnistria
After his visit to Moscow on January 10-14, the head of Transnistria Vadim Krasnoselsky announced the possible resumption of gas supplies to the unrecognized republic in the near future in the format of humanitarian aid. At the same time, technical details have not been specified yet. Moscow confirmed its readiness to support Transnistria. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "logistically, actions should be taken here that ensure gas supply and contracting on the part of Moldova."
The parties are now discussing technical aspects of Russian gas supplies, Alena Arshinova, a member of the Russian State Duma and chairman of the board of the Eurasia NGO, told Izvestia. Transnistria expects gas supplies as soon as possible.
- Technical aspects were discussed both at the meeting of the President of Transnistria at the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and during further contacts. The details of the agreement will be announced later. As for the exact terms, it is premature to talk about them, but we expect the resumption of gas supplies in the near future," the DMR Foreign Ministry emphasized.
Besides, a meeting of Moscow and Transnistrian MPs is being prepared now.
- We regularly meet with Transnistrian parliamentarians, headed by the chairman of the Supreme Council of the DMR, Alexander Korshunov, and we are always in touch and aware of all the issues. We planned to hold such meetings in the near future," Arshinova said.
Despite the blockage of the negotiation process, the Moldovan authorities may still make concessions. On January 17, Kishinev recognized a historic debt to Russia's Gazprom. "At this stage, there are all documents, acts of reconciliation, which confirm the historical debt of Moldovagaz to Gazprom on the right bank of the Nistru River in the amount of $709 million. This debt is in the accounting, no one has canceled it. The documents are being signed," acting chairman of the Moldovan company Vadim Ceban said.
By the way, Moldova itself has suffered from the termination of transit. Thus, even before its termination, Chisinau introduced a state of emergency in the energy sector and switched to purchasing electricity from Romania, and twice as expensive as before. In addition, the Moldovan company Energocom additionally purchases electricity from Ukraine. In early January, Moldova announced a twofold increase in electricity and heat prices. Earlier, localized protests had already taken place there several times.
It is worth noting that gas supplies to the DMR stopped not only because of Ukraine's refusal to ensure transit. On December 28, Gazprom said that it stopped supplying gas to Moldova because Moldovagaz, with which the Russian holding company has a contract until October 2026, "regularly fails to fulfill its payment obligations".
How gas can get to the DMR
Ukraine could potentially resume transit if, for example, the gas passing through its territory is not owned by Russia, but becomes European. The fact is that Gazprom transfers the ownership of the fuel to European companies already in Europe, which means that when gas passes through Ukraine, it still belongs to Russia, Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund and an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia. Thus, potentially, Europe could sign an additional agreement with Gazprom to move the point of delivery-acceptance of blue fuel. However, the fact is that Ukraine opposes the movement of Russian-origin gas through its territory.
Gas can get to Transnistria from the south through the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, but it also passes through Ukraine twice before reaching Transnistria. Therefore, Transnistria in any case will have to negotiate transit with both Chisinau and Kiev. By the way, even before the termination of transit through Ukraine, Tiraspol appealed to Moldova with a request to jointly solve the issue of supplies with Moscow and Kiev. However, there was no clear answer from Chisinau.
One cannot rule out the possibility that Ukraine may be interested in destabilizing the situation and creating a humanitarian crisis in the DMR, which has close ties with Moscow. Therefore, Kiev may deliberately not make contact on this issue, says Igor Yushkov.
It is not excluded that now Moscow and Tiraspol are working out the possibility of supplies through gas purchases on spot markets with the help of an intermediary company, which should not be related to Russia. After purchasing gas, it should sell it to the DMR at domestic prices of the unrecognized republic. The humanitarian nature of the aid is that Russia will compensate for this difference in price, the expert explained.
