The debt of the separatist region of Transnistria for Russian gas is nearing $10 billion, according to reports from the Moldovan press.
The statistical data on foreign trade released in the Transnistrian region reveals that the gas debt has reached a record sum of $9.5 billion. Out of this amount, approximately $8.5 billion is owed to Gazprom, while another billion dollars is owed to Factoring Finance, a subsidiary of Gazprom.
The publication Mold-street notes that it is impossible to determine the exact amount of the debt because Gazprom has not published financial reports since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the restrictions on gas deliveries to Europe. Similarly, the Transnistrian region has restricted the publication of information on this matter.
The publication also highlights that the gas debt of the region has surpassed the external debt of the Republic of Moldova, which stood at $9.46 billion at the end of last year, with only one-third being public debt.
In 2022, the cost of imported gas to the Transnistrian region reached $1.62 billion, which is 2.6 times more than in 2021. This increase is due to the rising cost of gas for the Republic of Moldova under the agreement between Moldovagaz and Gazprom. Gas imports accounted for approximately 50% of the region’s total foreign trade in 2022 and just over 90% of its total trade with the Russian Federation.
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The separatist Transnistrian region receives gas under the agreement between Gazprom and Moldovagaz. Gas consumption is recorded separately for the right and left banks of the Dniester River. The right bank practically has no current debt. The Transnistrian region does not pay for Russian gas and directs all gas payments made by consumers to the regional budget, using the funds for social needs.