Russian energy giant Gazprom on Saturday said it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is preparing for severe power cuts.
Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which is piped via Ukraine to the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria where it is used to generate cheap power that is sold to the rest of Moldova.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned the Russian decision, a warning before a total shutdown of Russian gas exports via Ukraine and to Europe, where it flows to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, once a transit deal with Ukraine expires on Dec. 31.
The shutdown will affect Moldova the hardest.
“This decision confirms once again the intention of the Kremlin to leave the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region without light and heat in the middle of the winter,” Recean wrote on Facebook, accusing Russia of using energy as a political weapon.
Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the allegations.
Russia, which is hostile to Moldova’s pro-European government, has said Moldova should pay for past supplies_ $709 million according to Russia while Moldova puts it at $8.6 million.
The separatist government told businesses that from Saturday, gas supplies would start to be switched off to commercial entities that were not considered critical. It said supplies of gas, heating and hot water to households would continue until Jan. 1.
Premier Recean said Moldova had diversified sources of gas supply “in order to reduce dependence on a single supplier”.
Pro-Western Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Gazprom of provoking an energy crisis.
