Moldova Faces Power Cuts As Russia Halts Gas Exports Ahead Of New Year

Moldova’s separatist Transdniestria region authorities cut off gas supplies to several state institutions on the eve of expiration of a Russian gas transit deal, as fears arise that the country may be plagued by power shortages. The cutoff was two days ahead of the deal expiring at the end of the year. Ukraine had declined to prolong the deal due to continued wartime conditions.

The region’s gas distributor, Tiraspoltransgaz, confirmed the supply cuts to 12 state institutions in towns near the Moldova-Ukraine border, including medical facilities, educational institutions, a police station, and a prosecutor’s office. The cutoff followed a statement from Russian energy giant Gazprom, which announced it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from January 1, citing unpaid debts by the Moldovan government.

Moldova disputes claim of arrears and accuses Russia of using energy supplies to destabilize the country. Russia has long supplied Moldova with gas, about 2 billion cubic meters annually, most of which has been routed through Ukraine to Transdniestria. The region uses this supply to generate cheap power, which is sold to government controlled Moldova. Moldova’s former Energy Minister, Victor Parlicov, stated that Gazprom’s moves are aimed at creating instability, adding that Moldova had already diversified its sources of energy, securing gas from Romania and other suppliers.

Moldova disputed Gazprom’s claim for $709 million debt by citing an international audit that proves arrears are at only $8.6 million from gas transactions. In a response to Gazprom’s move, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean strongly condemned the suspension of gas exports and called for alternative routes, including via the Turkstream pipeline crossing Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Moldovan authorities, along with Transdniestria, have imposed economic states of emergency, focusing on reducing energy consumption to mitigate the impact of potential power cuts in the coming days.