Russia will deliver gas to Transnistria in the volume that the region needs. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselskij said this after negotiations in Moscow, adding that Russia will provide gas as humanitarian aid. It was reported by AFP and TASS agencies.
“Gas will be supplied as humanitarian aid in the volume necessary to meet the needs of the Transnistrian population, to produce electricity and for industrial enterprises in Transnistria,” Krasnoselskij said in response to the question of whether Russia would also supply gas to cover needs outside of Transnistria. The date for the start of deliveries has not yet been set, but it is certain, Krasnoselskij added, that the transit route will also be established in further negotiations.
The breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria, which is completely dependent on Russia for energy, is struggling with a large-scale energy crisis after Russian gas giant Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Moldova at the beginning of the year. He cited Chisinau’s unpaid debt as the reason. In addition, the Russian-Ukrainian agreement on gas transit through Ukraine expired on January 1. However, Moldova does not recognize the amount of the debt, which Russia has set at USD 709 million (EUR 692.04 million), saying it only amounts to USD 8.6 million.
Last week, representatives of the Transnistrian government pointed out that the region has gas reserves for heating and cooking for less than a month. Transnistrian Deputy Prime Minister Sergej Obolonik said on January 8 that the reserve of 13 million cubic meters of gas will be enough for social facilities and other important infrastructure objects, as well as apartment buildings “from today for 24 days”.
The Transnistrian president subsequently traveled to Moscow in order to resolve the energy crisis, which has stopped the operation of almost all businesses. According to some media, he held talks in Moscow from Friday, January 10, to Tuesday of this week. In this context, the President of Moldova, Maia Sanduová, said that she knew about Krasnoselski’s visit to Moscow, which, according to her, proves that her government “is not preventing steps to find a solution”.
