Energy Minister Victor Parlicov has disclosed that the Republic of Moldova has succeeded in procuring gas at more competitive prices on the European market than those offered by Gazprom. The change has resulted in savings of about €60 million in the last year.
In a recent interview with Rlive, Parlicov highlighted that in the past, gas purchases from Russia were associated with political and economic complexity, with Moscow treating contracts for the Transnistrian region separately. This change in procurement strategy has enabled the Republic of Moldova to purchase gas at more competitive prices from the European market.
“Gazprom did not conduct business in Moldova. Their main goal was to finance the illusion of independence in the Transnistrian region, as politically directed by the Kremlin. That was their primary function,” Parlicov pointed out.
He stated that the Russian Federation never intended to invest in the development of the Republic of Moldova. Russia had a coercive program to keep Moldova in its sphere of influence by controlling the Transnistrian region and using its role as a mediator in this conflict. For 30 years, we have been dependent on electricity and gas from the Russian Federation. Everyone knows that Moscow has used gas and energy as a political tool.
“They continue to offer this free gas on the left bank of the Dniester, even after 30 years because there is an interest in financing the illusion of independence on the left bank of the Dniester. Either they won’t or they can’t end this epic. We on, the right bank of the Dniester can exist without Gazprom contact. Chisinau is not terminating the contract because we do not want to create problems on the left bank of the Dniester. After all, their problems are our problems,” said the Energy Minister.
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For the time being, according to Parlicov, we need a period for those on the left of the Dniester to understand that they no longer have those levers of influence and blackmail and will have to review their business and financing models and gradually get out of dependence on free gas. It will end.
“They must realize that the current gas pricing model is unsustainable in the long term. It is imperative to begin adjusting domestic gas prices. Everything is reliant on this cheap gas. Gradually increasing domestic gas prices can make commercial gas affordable. It will make uncompetitive businesses less attractive,” Parlicov concluded.