Chișinău lends gas to Transnistria with EU-backed agreement
Chișinău will supply the Transnistrian region with 3 million cubic meters of natural gas as a loan.
The gas will be provided under a loan agreement to be concluded between SA "Moldovagaz" and SRL "Tiraspoltransgaz," with the European Union guaranteeing the agreement, according to the decision of the Commission for Exceptional Situations.
Authorities state that this measure is necessary to ensure critical pressure is maintained in the pipelines on the left bank of the Dniester River, allowing the distribution network to remain operational.
The volume of gas will be returned to Moldovagaz by Tiraspoltransgaz by March 1, 2025. If physical repayment is not possible, the gas will be paid for, as stipulated in the agreement.
The European Union has proposed an emergency assistance package worth €30 million as an initial step to support the Republic of Moldova in addressing the energy crisis caused by Gazprom. According to Prime Minister Dorin Recean, the EU is prepared to fund the purchase and transportation of natural gas to the Transnistrian region until February 10, 2025. This assistance package will enable the production of electricity for the right bank of the Dniester River at anti-crisis prices. However, it remains unclear what will happen after the 14-day period ends. During a press conference on January 27, the Prime Minister assured that “the authorities have the EU’s financial backing” but did not provide further details.
In a statement on social media, government spokesperson Daniel Vodă clarified that “the natural gas supplied under emergency provisions is not intended for the operation of large industrial consumers, such as the Steelworks, crypto-mining operations, or other non-transparent activities that have thrived at the expense of the region’s residents.” According to Vodă, “the volume delivered will be limited to gas and electricity consumption for households, kindergartens, hospitals, schools, and basic businesses such as bakeries and small enterprises.”
So far, the self-proclaimed leaders in Tiraspol have not commented on whether they will accept Chișinău’s offer, supported by the European Union. It is worth noting that Ukrainian authorities have recently proposed supporting the Transnistrian region by supplying coal, under certain conditions even free of charge, provided the region produces electricity for both banks of the Dniester and for the Odesa region.
During a press conference following his meeting with President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that if Transnistria lacks the expertise to use alternative types of coal, Ukraine is ready to send specialists.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
