If the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin one day decides to stop the supply of Russian gas to the Transnistrian region, this can lead to a humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru, but can also open reintegration perspectives, the deputy chairman of the Party of Change, energy expert Sergiu Tofilat stated in a public debate hosted by IPN.

“The fact that the supply of the Russian gas that continues to come to the Transnistrian region can be stopped is a risk that still persists. Traditionally, on October 1 Gazprom comes with surprises for the Republic of Moldova. It either raises the price or reduces the volumes. On the one hand, we saw that last summer Gazprom stopped the supply of gas to consumers in the EU, except for Putin’s friends Serbia and Hungary. The rest remained without gas. We have a contract with Gazprom, which stipulates four points, four conditions that enable Gazprom to terminate this contract. We violated all the four points, but they do not terminate the contract,” stated Sergiu Tofilat.

The energy expert considers the reason is clear: the Russian gas that continues coming maintains the unconstitutional Transnistrian regime and also enables the right side of the Nistru to benefit from more advantageous energy prices so that the energy system is kept functional. The Republic of Moldova can yet buy gas and electricity from other countries, while the Transnistrian region cannot.  

According to Sergiu Tofilat, one more aspect needs to be taken into account in the electricity sector. Out of seven lines that connect Moldova with Ukraine, only one line does not go through the Transnistrian region and the only high-voltage line that connects Moldova with Romania enters Vulcănești, goes through the Moldovan thermoelectric plant and gets to Moldova. “So, the only line that connects us with Romania goes through the left side of the Nistru first. That’s why we are vulnerable. It can be disconnected and the Transnistrian region can consume the energy we buy from Romania as it goes through this region first. So, this risk persists,” noted the expert.

He also said that the Russian President Vladimir Putin can decide to stop the supply of gas to the Transnistrian region and this can lead to a humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru, but can also open country reintegration perspectives as their so-called independence would be ended for non-payment. They exist only due to the gas that de factor comes free from Russia. The people there will need to be helped. They will not be able to pay their bills. Today the gas comes free, but can be stopped tomorrow. This will happen sooner or later.

The public debate entitled “European Political Community Summit, opportunities opened up for security and energy interconnection” was staged by IPN in the framework of the project “Support for European Integration by stimulating discussion in the mass media about the European Political Community (EPC) Summit” that is supported by Soros Foundation Moldova.