Gazprom says it will stop supplying natural gas to Moldova from January 1 | Wilnesh News

Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday it would stop natural gas supplies to Russia. moldova Since January 1, the EU candidate country has reportedly not repaid its debts and the country has taken emergency measures as it prepares for blackouts.

Gazprom said in an online statement that it reserves the right to take further actions, including terminating its contract with Gazprom, Moldova’s main gas operator, in which the Russian company has a majority stake. The stoppage of gas will halt supplies to the country’s largest Kusilgan power plant, located in the separatist region Pro-Russian Transnistria.

Moldova responded by accusing Moscow of weaponizing energy supplies.

Gazprom supplies natural gas to the Kusilgan plant, which generates electricity for a large part of mainland Moldova. The plant was privatized by Transnistria officials in 2004 and later sold to a Russian state company. Moldova’s central government, which leans toward the West and has repeatedly complained about Russian interference, did not recognize privatization.

Earlier this month, the Moldovan Parliament Vote for a state of emergency The energy sector has come under scrutiny amid concerns that Russia could leave Moldova this winter without enough energy.

A special committee was also set up to manage “imminent risks” if Moscow is unable to supply gas to the Kuzilgan plant, and on Friday approved a series of measures aimed at saving energy.

Gazprom says Moldova owes nearly $709 million for past gas supplies, a figure fiercely disputed by the government in the capital, Chisinau.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned the move on Saturday, saying his government did not recognize the debt cited by Gazprom and that it had been “invalidated by international audits.”

Citing findings from British and Norwegian audit firms, Moldova claimed its debt was close to $8.6 million, a fraction of what Gazprom claimed.

Recin added that Chişinău had pushed to diversify gas supplies to reduce reliance on the Kuchulgan plant and said the government would “carefully analyze legal options, including resorting to international arbitration” to protect Moldova’s national interests. .

“Our country is ready to deal with any situation that arises after the Kremlin’s decision,” he said.

The Moldovan government announced on Friday that it will implement a series of measures to reduce energy consumption starting from January 1. These include limiting lighting in public and commercial buildings by at least 30%, as well as energy-intensive businesses operating during off-peak hours.

At the end of 2022, Moldova Russia causes severe power outage after attacking neighboring Ukraineinterconnected with the Kuciurgan plant.

Transnistria, which broke away from the federation after a brief war in 1992 and is not recognized by most countries, also declared a state of emergency earlier this month in case the region loses access to gas supplies.

When Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova, a former Soviet republic of about 2.5 million people, was completely dependent on Moscow for natural gas, but has since struggled to diversify and expand its energy sources.

October, Moldova Pro-Western President Maia Sandu wins re-electionBoth votes in the referendum were in favor of securing the country’s path to the EU, but have been overshadowed in recent years by claims of Russian meddling undermining the country’s westward shift. Russia denies interfering in Moldovan affairs.

Russia Cut off most natural gas supplies In 2022, European leaders cited a dispute over ruble payments and described the move as energy extortion as they backed Ukraine against a Russian invasion.

European governments have had to scramble to buy alternative supplies at higher prices, much of which is LNG shipped by ship from the United States and Qatar.