Suspicion is growing over the delivery of Russian gas to the Transnistrian region after Gazprom failed to book transportation capacity on the Trans-Balkan route for November. This failure to book quarterly volumes suggests that the Russian giant is not considering using this route as an alternative for gas transit, focusing on the transit contract through Ukraine, whose fate remains uncertain.
Energy Minister Victor Parlicov warned that December will bring the “red signal” when they make bookings for January. If Gazprom does not book capacity even then, it will not become clear until December 31 whether there is a new transit contract through Ukraine. Parlicov emphasized that Moldovagaz sent a letter to Gazprom to clarify possible solutions in case of a suspension of Ukrainian transit, but Gazprom has delayed its reply.
“I would have liked to know this before December 31 so that we could organize alternative routes. Gazprom has a delivery contract with Moldovagaz, but the question is how it will fulfill its contractual obligations,” Parlicov said. He emphasized the importance of the Sudja transit point, controlled by Ukrainian forces since August, through which gas reaches Europe and Transnistria.
FOR THE MOSTÂ IMPORTANT NEWS, FOLLOW US ONÂ TWITTER!Â
Chisinau depends indirectly on Russian gas, as the Cuciurgan power plant supplies 80% of the electricity to the right bank of the Dniester. Russian methane, which reaches the left bank of the Dniester, produces this electricity.