Moldovagaz: Gazprom has warned that the Right Bank is provided with its gas until April

Gazprom announced the termination of Russian gas supplies to Moldova. Moldovagaz clarified that there are enough volumes to supply the Right Bank. The company did not report anything about Transnistria.

"Moldovagaz JSC has taken note of the decision of Gazprom PJSC to limit, starting from 7 a.m. local time on January 1, 2025, the supply of natural gas to the Republic of Moldova to a volume of 0 cubic meters per day," the head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban writes in the telegram channel.

He specified that, starting from December 2022, all natural gas supplied by Gazprom in the amount of 5.7 million cubic meters per day was transferred to Moldovagaz to the Transnistrian region of Moldova.

"At the same time, natural gas for consumers on the right bank of the Dniester was purchased on regional and European markets. It should be emphasized that Moldovagaz JSC has contracted the necessary volumes of gas that will fully ensure all consumption of the Right Bank until the end of March 2025," says the head of the Moldovan company in which Gazprom is one of the shareholders.

The Russian company said yesterday that due to the refusal of the Moldovan side to settle the debt for gas supplies, Gazprom today sent a notification to Moldovagaz JSC. It says that Moldovagaz JSC regularly fails to fulfill its payment obligations under the current contract, which is a significant violation of its terms.

"In this regard, on the basis of the provisions of the contract and the applicable norms of Russian legislation, PJSC Gazprom, from 8:00 Moscow time on January 1, 2025, introduces a restriction on natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova to 0 cubic meters per day," the company said, adding that the restriction will remain in effect until "Gazprom will not notify Moldovagaz JSC otherwise in writing.

"PJSC Gazprom reserves all its rights, including the right to unilaterally terminate the contract and the right to demand compensation from Moldovagaz JSC for all losses and payment of fines for non-performance and/or improper performance Moldovagaz JSC has fulfilled its obligations under the contract," Gazprom added.

It is obvious that the termination of supplies is connected with the upcoming stop of Ukrainian transit.

Earlier, the head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban explained that contrary to the statements of some experts about the absence of reasons for Gazprom to terminate the contract, this is not the case.

"The Russian side may terminate it at any time for commercial reasons. First of all, because of the unresolved debt problem, which is an integral part of the contract. And also due to force majeure circumstances related to the conclusion of a new contract for transit through the territory of Ukraine," the head of the Moldovan gas company said.

Since December 2022, all Russian gas under the Moldovan contract has been supplied to Transnistria, including the gas power plant, which provides the lion's share of energy consumption of the Right Bank.

There is no clarity with the further gas supply of the Left Bank itself. On the one hand, the power plant can be converted to coal, and Gazprom is able to supply volumes via the southern route — through Turkey and The Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. On the other hand, Chisinau also announced the possibility of supplies, but the issue of payment will arise. Transnistria receives Russian gas on loan.