Russian gas producer Gazprom on Monday withdrew its threat to cut gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova, but said it reserves the right to limit or stop supplies in the future if Moldova does not make the agreed payments, Reuters reported.
Last week, Gazprom accused Ukraine of cutting off gas supplies through the country on its way to Moldova, which Kyiv denies, and said it could begin cutting those flows from Monday.
In its latest statement, Gazprom said Moldova’s natural gas operator Moldovagaz paid for gas deliveries in November, adding that it received payment for what it said was gas intended for Moldovan customers but which remained in Ukraine.
However, Gazprom accused Moldova of “regular violations” of payment obligations and added: “Gazprom reserves the right to reduce or completely suspend supplies in case of non-payment.”
European gas prices rose last week due to Gazprom’s threat to cut supplies to the Republic of Moldova, as the supply route through Ukraine is the last active Russian gas corridor to Europe.
On Monday, the underlying Dutch monthly contract fell 3.2% to 121.15 euros/MWh.
Gas supplies are a constant source of tension between Russia and the Republic of Moldova.
Gazprom says the former Soviet republic owes it about $9 billion, a debt built up over decades of defaults in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, which is home to about 1,200 Russian troops.
Moldova refuses to recognize the debt as its own.
Currently, Transnistria uses about 40% of the gas imported into the country, but does not pay the government of Moldova for it and refuses to discuss this issue.
Vadym Cheban, chairman of Moldovagaz, said on Monday that the gas advance bill had doubled to $42 million since November, an amount he said Moldovagaz had paid amid increased gas demand from Transnistria.
In a sign that flows were uninterrupted, Gazprom separately said it would deliver 42.2 million cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Monday, down only slightly from Sunday’s level of 42.6 million cubic meters. Both figures include flows to Moldova.
Russia used to supply about 40% of Europe’s natural gas needs, mostly through pipelines, but most of those exports were cut off when the war broke out.
Last week, Moldova and Ukraine accused Russia of using gas supplies as a tool for blackmail, a charge Moscow denies.
Source: News.ro
Emma Shawn is a talented and accomplished author, known for his in-depth and thought-provoking writing on politics. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for political analysis and a talent for breaking down complex issues, Emma’s writing provides readers with a unique and insightful perspective on current events.