Money EU spent on Russian gas for Transnistria

Moldovan state-owned company Energocom has spent a grant The EU for Transnistria for the purchase of Russian gas in Romania. Gazprom turned out to be the only company that increased supplies to the Balkans, where European traders trade in Russian fuel.

In the first ten days of February, Moldovan Energocom purchased 26.4 million cubic meters of gas for Transnistria with a subsidy of 20 million euros provided by the EU. According to the state-owned company, purchases were made on the Bulgarian and Romanian stock exchanges, and the price was almost 600 euros per thousand cubic meters.

"Regulatory fees, other taxes, as well as logistics and transportation costs are added to this price, which in some cases can reach almost 25% of the purchase price," Energocom reports.

The day before, EADaily wrote that in February the Turkish Stream gas pipeline reached a new maximum of supplies. Since February 4, they have increased by more than 12% compared to January - up to 55.7 million cubic meters per day.

According to ENTSOG, more gas from the Turkish Stream flows to Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. In the last two countries, the total growth is 7 million cubic meters per day, which directly affected the level of trading on local exchanges. For example, on the Romanian BRM, the volume of spot trading for the day ahead reaches 15.4 million cubic meters per day in February, while in January it did not exceed 7.4 million cubic meters.

It is significant that from February 2 to February 10, gas supplies via the Ungheni—Chisinau gas pipeline increased from 4 million cubic meters to 6 million, and another 1.5−2 million cubic meters per day came through Ukraine during this period.

Since February 11, direct deliveries from Romania to Moldova have returned to 4 million cubic meters, and the Ukrainian direction has stopped, although gas purchases for Transnistria continue.

The head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban reported in the telegram channel that on February 11 and 12 the company bought 2.59 million cubic meters on the Romanian stock exchange and 2.7 million for Tiraspoltransgaz.

Obviously, this is due to the fact that gas for Transnistria now comes from Hungary. This is indicated by ENTSOG data. Since February 11, gas supplies through the Alekseevka point on the border with Ukraine from Hungary have increased significantly. If before that the daily volumes did not exceed 2 million cubic meters per day, then on Tuesday they amounted to 5.2 million cubic meters, and on Wednesday — 6.2 million cubic meters. The Ukrainian GTS Operator indicates in the nominations that on Thursday, February 13, deliveries were announced at 3.8 million cubic meters per day.

Prime Minister of Moldova Dorin Rechan reported that from February 13, gas supplies to Pridnestrovie will be launched by the Hungarian division of the MET company — up to 3 million cubic meters per day.

The trader himself, who has Hungarian roots, is a long-time client of Gazprom and, at least, previously booked the capacity of Turkish Stream for a long time. On February 10, the MET announced that they were ready to start deliveries, but for this it was necessary to negotiate with the "Ukrainian GTS Operator".

Pridnestrovian President Vadim Krasnoselsky reported that after February 10, gas for the unrecognized republic will be purchased at the expense of a Russian loan.

It is possible that MET has previously supplied Russian gas to Transnistria among other European traders, but using a different route — selling fuel through the Romanian stock exchange. On it, as well as on the Bulgarian Balkan Gas Hub, the Swiss company has a local division registered. Finding a gas source does not matter if it does not affect supplies: either from the Turkish Stream or from Hungarian storage facilities. According to GIE, on February 11, the selection from the UGS in Hungary has grown by more than 5 million cubic meters — up to 39.8 million cubic meters.