Moldova intends to review the amount of debt for Russian gas

Moldova intends to reconsider the amount of debt for Russian gas. About it stated Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu.

“As for the volume of the debt that has been formed, Moldova believes that the parties can agree on it only after an audit,” Spynu wrote on Facebook.

According to him, Moldova is interested in signing a long-term contract, like the previous one.

So far, Chisinau and Moscow have not been able to come to a compromise on a new gas contract. At the end of September, Gazprom and Moldovagaz signed a document to extend the contract for the supply of gas to Moldovan consumers from October 1, 2021 for one month. This one will expire on Monday.

The Russian side is ready to supply gas to Moldova at a market price with a 25% discount if the country pays a debt of over $ 700 million. The Moldovan authorities, in turn, claim that the price offered by Gazprom is higher than the market price in the region.

This week, the Moldovan company Energocom announced three tenders for the purchase of 4 million cubic meters of natural gas. Suppliers from Switzerland and Poland have won two of them, the third has not yet been announced.

In the opinion of Sergei Pikin, director of the Energy Development Fund, buying gas from European companies, on the contrary, will lead to the fact that Moldovans will have to pay more money on gas bills.

“Poland sells gas to Moldova at a spot price while Gazprom offered them $ 800 with a 25% discount – $ 600. The difference is $ 400 from 1000 cubic meters. From 1 million cubic meters they are already losing $ 400 thousand, from 1 billion – $ 400 million, and from their consumption volume of 3 billion cubic meters they will lose $ 1.2 billion if they signed an agreement on the spot. Moldova refuses to pay off a debt of $ 400 million (with interest of $ 700 million) and condemns itself to an overpayment of $ 1.2 billion at current prices. The poor population of Moldova will now pay for gas on bills several times more expensive. No matter how grapes and tomatoes grow in price fivefold, ”the expert said in a conversation with The Insider.

Last week, the Moldovan parliament declared a state of emergency in the country due to the energy crisis. Back in early October, Moldovagaz reported that consumption in the republic exceeds supplies from Russia, and urged to save fuel.