Dorin Recean: "The Republic of Moldova no longer consumes gas from Gazprom"
Moldovagaz attempted to resume gas supplies to the right bank of the Dniester, but they were immediately interrupted, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said. The chief executive gave assurances that Moldova no longer consumed gas from the Russian concern. Moldovagaz tried to resume gas deliveries from Gazprom to the right bank of the Dniester, but they were immediately interrupted, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said. The chief executive gave assurances that Moldova no longer consumes gas from the Russian concern. In counter-expression, the chief executive said that Moldova has Romania's full support in establishing a long-term contractual relationship for the quantities of gas needed in Chisinau.
"First of all, we should mention that Moldovazaz is a predominantly Russian company. So, we have to say that it is Gazprom Moldova. They tried to resume for the Republic of Moldova these deliveries, which were immediately interrupted. So the Republic of Moldova no longer consumes gas from Gazprom. Here we have the support of Romania to establish a long-term contractual relationship for the quantities of gas that are needed in Chisinau. We see this support and we will see it materialised as soon as possible", the Prime Minister said at a press conference held with his Romanian counterpart Nicolae Ciucă, who is on an official visit to Chisinau.
Moldovagaz has been purchasing natural gas from Gazprom for four days. The company did not inform the Ministry of Energy about this. In this context, Minister Victor Parlicov said at a press conference that Moldovagaz should buy gas for the right bank from Energocom so that the company would have enough money to buy cheaper natural gas from the SPOT market.
Moldovagaz explained in a statement that the volume of natural gas consumed on the left bank of the Dniester has decreased due to higher temperatures lately, but also because Energocom has been purchasing less electricity from the Cuciurgan Thermal Power Plant.
The source noted that contracted gas was accumulating on the operational balancing account (OBA) at the interconnection points of the gas transmission systems of Ukraine and Moldova, contrary to the provisions of the interconnection agreement signed by the operators.
On 21 March this year, at the joint meeting between Moldovagaz OJSC and Tiraspoltransgaz OJSC, it was noted that the full consumption of natural gas delivered by SAP Gazprom on a daily basis from the left side of the Dniester River will be restored as of 22 March 2023 and the appropriateness of requesting a revision of the contracted volumes was discussed.
