The Russian company Gazprom does not seem determined to terminate the contract with the Republic of Moldova as it has had the legal right to do this since May, when the audit to determine the historical debts of Moldovagaz was to be finalized. Energy expert Victor Parlicov said that Gazprom does not want to assume responsibility, including political one, for an eventual humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru and wants to shift this onto Chisinau as the 5.7 million cubic meters of natural gas supplied by Gazprom in October are sufficient for the right side of the Nistru during the cold period of the year, IPN reports, quoting RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service.
In an interview, the former director of the National Agency for Energy Regulation said that by cutting the gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova Gazprom tries to place Chisinau in front of a dilemma, including to make the Moldovan authorities responsible for a humanitarian crisis in the Transnistrian region. “Gazprom pushes the authorities in Chisinau towards a difficult decision: to use all the gas for the right side and to leave Transnistria without gas,” stated Parlicov, noting that from technical viewpoint, this can be done.
According to him, such behavior by the Russian company, which violated the provisions of the contract signed with the Republic of Moldova, is part of a relevant strategy adopted by the Kremlin.
As to Gazprom’s warnings about a halt in gas supplies, the expert said that these are a bluff. “Gazprom could have stopped the supply of gas in May or now if it had wanted this. I yet admit that it could resort to such a step in a winter month, when it will be colder. The right side is yet ready for such a scenario. What we should do now is to brace for a humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru so that we could cope. When there is no more “free gas” in Transnistria, the authorities there will be unable to pay social welfare and Chisinau will be put in the situation to assume responsibility for this. De facto, this could mean the reintegration of the Republic of Moldova from socioeconomic viewpoint. I don’t think we have an action plan for such a case and I don’t know if we are ready for this from all viewpoints,” stated Victor Parlicov.
The expert also said that if Moldova does not receive electricity from the Kuchurgan power plan following an eventual interruption in gas supplies, the state will have to buy power from, Ukraine or from Romania but at a price that will be two-three times higher. Consequently, the general pressure on consumers (gas/electricity) will reach an estimated €100 million. The money will have to be covered with foreign loans or possible European grants.
