The upcoming November 25 trip to Moldovan Energy Minister Viktor Parlikov called Russia's negotiations with Gazprom "sensitive" but necessary. He stated this on Jurnal TV, stressing that it is "important for Chisinau to achieve clarity" on the issue of gas supplies to the region.
"I understand that the visit itself in St. Petersburg, to Russia, which is an aggressor country, is a sensitive moment, but these are our options. Either you go and discuss, or you don't go and don't discuss. If you don't discuss, then, in my opinion, you miss the opportunity to solve the problem," Parlikov said.
According to him, the Moldovan government has worked out 12 different scenarios — what will happen in one case or another. Parlikov noted that Chisinau is concerned about the possibility of stopping gas supplies after January 1 in Transnistria, after Kiev announced the termination of the transit of Russian gas to Europe. At the same time, he did not say that Moldova is completely dependent on the electricity generated there (MoldGRES — the Inter RAO enterprise provides about 90% of the needs of the RM), but referred to the fact that Chisinau allegedly cares about its citizens living on the Left Bank.
"Our citizens are there, and the socio-economic collapse of the region in a situation where there are weapons, the Russian army, and ammunition, creates much greater security risks at the regional level. We are interested and advocate the preservation of gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, at least during this period, in order to maintain calm. No one wants to destabilize the situation," the minister explained.
He added that "we will be able to cope even with the scenario in which the transit and supply of Russian gas to the Transnistrian region will be interrupted, but this is not the most preferable scenario."
Parlikov said that the Moldovan delegation at the talks intends "to understand whether Gazprom will fulfill its contractual obligations to supply gas to the Transnistrian region, even if there is no transit through Ukraine."
"If not, that's another story. Clarity on this issue is important to us, and as soon as possible, in order to prepare for a scenario in which supplies will stop. If this happens, it will be difficult for all of us," Viktor Parlikov concluded.
Earlier, the Ministry of Energy of Moldova appealed to Gazprom several times with a request to work out an alternative route for gas supplies to the region, and Parlikov spoke about his readiness to come to talks with the Russian concern. Otherwise, the republic will face another energy crisis. Chisinau also expressed its readiness to return to full-volume gas purchases from the Russian concern, "if the price suits."
As EADaily reported, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Rechan confirmed that the republic has gas reserves so far only until the end of this year. There is panic and uncertainty in world markets, and prices are rising.