While Moldova has at present a single gas import contract with the Russian company Gazprom, three options to diversify gas supply are now being considered, said Minister of Economy Vadim Brînzan.
"We work on three dimensions. The first is to either renegotiate the contract or have a two-year contract with Gazprom, in order to have time to finalize the Ungheni - Chișinău pipeline, which will be ready by March next year. We are working with our Romanian partners so as to speed up the process”, said Vadim Brânzan during TV8’s show "Cutia Neagra".
The minister of economy said that talks to import gas through the northern districts of Moldova are being held with Ukraine. "We want to stock up on Ukrainian gas and have reserves during the winter in the event something happens with Gazprom," said the minister.
According to Vadim Brînzan, another diversification option of gas supply is in the TurkStream pipeline. "We are working with the Bulgarian side, where the pipeline will pass, to bring gas through the southern part of Moldova, near Vulcanesti," the minister said.
According to the minister, all these negotiations should have been carried out 20 years ago, but there was no political interest. "They were making money off of gas and electricity transactions, which are connected. Beneficiaries have made serious money here and also in Transnistria,” said Vadim Brînzan.
Brînzan added that the Transnistrian region's debt towards Gazprom is not owed by the Republic of Moldova. "They have their debt, we have our debt," Vadim Brînzan pointed out.
