The Republic of Moldova wants to reduce gas consumption. Dodon, under house arrest, threatens early elections
The Republic of Moldova is considering reducing its dependence on Russian gas in the event that the energy company Gazprom reduces gas supplies, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, said on Tuesday.
Domestic consumers in the Republic of Moldova will have heat this winter, despite the risks of natural gas deliveries from the Russian Federation being suspended, said Andrei Spînu, quoted by Chisinau media and dpa, reports Agerpres.
The authorities claim that there are sufficient financial reserves to deal with extreme situations, as well as the state of Russian gas supply. There are also alternative sources of natural gas procurement. Meanwhile, the government proposes a voluntary reduction of at least 15% of gas consumption in the Republic of Moldova.
“We have to learn how to save. We believe that the Republic of Moldova can save 15% of its gas consumption, just like the countries of the European Union,” said Spînu, adding that the government in Chisinau is preparing for various scenarios, including the complete failure of Gazprom’s gas supply.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, a good alternative for natural gas is a fuel oil area, which could be supplied by Romania. Estimates show that the Republic of Moldova would need 216,000 tons of fuel oil for the period October 2022-April 2023, Radio Chisinau reports.
The Chisinau authorities are considering three scenarios in case of limitations or complete cessation of natural gas supplies by Gazprom: 35%, 50% or the full state of natural gas from the Russian Federation.
Currently, the Republic of Moldova has 25 million cubic meters of natural gas in stock, according to the radio station.
Spinu said that Moldovagaz asked the Russian companies Gazprom to approve the postponement of the natural gas payment in August, but has not yet received a response.
The Republic of Moldova buys gas from Gazprom based on a contract concluded last year. The price fluctuates monthly and is calculated from the spot price of gas and oil depending on the season. Spot prices have risen this year.
The Republic of Moldova declared itself neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and did not impose sanctions on Russia. But its political leaders are seeking closer ties with the European Union, and the country received candidate status in June at the same time as Ukraine, reports dpa.
Former pro-Russian President Igor Dodon, who maintains his influence despite being under house arrest for treason and corruption, charges he denies, said in a Facebook message on Tuesday that President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Natalia Gavriliță must to urgently go to Moscow to negotiate a new gas contract, otherwise threatening the current leadership of Chisinau with early presidential and parliamentary elections, according to Unimedia.info and Reuters.
“In August, a summer month, the Republic of Moldova will pay a record price for natural gas of almost 1,459 dollars per thousand cubic meters. Transformed into a tariff for domestic consumers, it will jump well over 30 lei for a cubic meter of gas,” Dodon wrote on Facebook.
“President Maia Sandu or Prime Minister Natalia Gavriliță should leave their pride and leave urgently to Moscow, communicate to find an agreement for a lower price for natural gas. Just as the leaders of Hungary, a member country of the European Union and which buys Russian gas at a much lower price than our country, are doing these days. We need a contract like, for example, Serbia has, which now pays 350 dollars for a thousand cubic meters of gas. And Armenia, which is a member of the Eurasian Union, pays even less,” Dodon wrote in the message quoted by local media.
The leader of the pro-Russian socialists from the Republic of Moldova claims that “otherwise, the people have only one alternative: to get rid of this disastrous leadership of the country as soon as possible.”
The Republic of Moldova will buy gas in August at a price of 1458.5 dollars per thousand cubic meters, according to an announcement made by the head of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban.
Igor Dodon, who lost the presidential elections in November 2020, is being investigated in four criminal cases and risks up to 20 years in prison.
Publisher: MB