REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: Parliament approves the establishment of a 30-day state of emergency in the context of the gas crisis – 22.10.2021
The Parliament decided to establish a state of emergency in the Republic of Moldova for a period of 30 days in the context of the gas crisis, a measure requested by the Chisinau government to be able to purchase gas from alternative sources, given that Gazprom no longer delivers sufficient quantities to ensure consumption, informs Agerpres.
55 deputies of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) voted in favor of instituting the measure, according to the quoted source.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavriliţă declared in the plenary of the Parliament that she has not yet reached an agreement with Gazprom and there is no certainty that it will be established in the end. In the meantime, there has already been a shortage of about 16 million cubic meters of gas, and the pressure is at the critical limit of the system’s operation.
The government addressed Parliament, calling for it to be set up for an emergency for 30 days, until November 20. The measure is needed to take the necessary actions more quickly, including allocating the necessary financial resources for the purchase of gas from alternative sources.
Natalia Gavriliță specified that, in the current conditions, the state institutions cannot act fast enough to face the challenges.
According to the decision, a special fast gas procurement regime will be established on the next state of emergency. If necessary, the consumption of natural gas and other energy resources will be streamlined and rapid instruments will be put in place to collect consumer payments for used natural gas.
The decision states that the state of emergency will not affect the conduct of local elections in 15 localities, including Balti.
The bloc of communists and socialists criticized the measures taken by the Government to negotiate the new gas contract, considering that it did not take all the necessary actions and the institution of the state of emergency is not motivated. At the same time, the socialist Petru Burduja described the situation as a new scheme of state money fraud, similar to the one from 2014.
Moldovagaz failed to sign the extension of the gas delivery contract with Gazprom, which expired on September 30, and in October the Republic of Moldova purchased gas at a record price – almost $ 800 per thousand cubic meters and in limited quantities, documents . Radio Chisinau.
Negotiations continue with the Russian giant, and in the meantime, the government is in talks with other states, such as Ukraine, Romania, Poland, to purchase gas from alternative sources. In addition, authorities have announced that they will provide benefits to low-income families to cover the increase in spending.
Gas prices have risen rapidly in recent months on international markets, and some officials accuse Russia of blackmailing energy.