The Government of Moldova considers Gazprom’s decision to halt the gas supplies to Moldova if the overdue amounts are not paid by January 21, 9am, is an unfriendly gesture. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița said that benevolence can exist even in the commercial relations, but Gazprom didn’t show openness. The official noted Moldovagaz fully paid for the gas consumed in December and the 50% advance for January and this means that there are no reasons for concern, for now, IPN reports.

Premier Gavrilița said the declaring of the state of emergency for being able to transfer the money to Moldovagaz for avoiding a halt in gas supplies in winter was a solution as Gazprom sent a warning letter to Chisinau, threatening with a halt in gas supplies.

“Gazprom is a large, serious company and the payment of this US$25 million could have been deferred for ten days or a month. We consider commercial solutions could have been found with slight openness. We perceive this as an unfriendly gesture. At least this letter we received said it clearly that if the payments are not made by the date of 20, gas supplies will be stopped on January 21, 9am. This is an unfriendly gesture as we fulfilled all the agreements stipulated in the protocol. We subsidize a significant part of the gas rate for the citizens,” Natalia Gavrilița stated in the program “Shadow Cabinet” on JurnalTV channel.

The official said the natural gas rates can be raised if the purchase price of gas remains high. She assured that the Government is preparing a new package of subsidies for the citizens so that the higher bills do not seriously affect the citizens.

“The subsidization mechanism is based on the proportion. If the gas rate rises, the subsidy also rises. We have a number of scenarios and will act depending on how much the rate is raised. We will see what rate Moldovagaz requests and what rate NAER accepts and will then provide additional subsidies. We will do our best for the citizens not to feel a new rise in rates,” stated Natalia Gavrilița.

On January 20, Moldovagaz transferred US$34.4 million to Gazprom, which is the last installment of the $63 million owed for the natural gas supplied in the first half of January. This was possible after the Moldovan Government allocated in advance 469 million lei subsidies for the gas consumed by households and thanks to the deferral of VAT payments to the state budget and the transfers made to Energocom.