Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom announced on Saturday that it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting January 1, citing an alleged unpaid debt of around $709 million. However, Moldova disputes this figure, claiming that it owes only around $8.6 million. The move is expected to cause power cuts in the country.
Gazprom owns a majority stake in Moldovagaz, Moldova’s main gas operator, and has reserved the right to terminate its contract with the company if the debt is not paid. The cessation of gas supplies will affect the Kuciurgan power plant, which is situated in the separatist Transnistria region and generates electricity that powers a significant portion of Moldova.
Moldova’s government has reacted by accusing Moscow of weaponizing energy supplies. The country’s Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, has condemned the move and said that his government does not recognize the debt cited by Gazprom, which has been “invalidated by an international audit.”
In response to the move, Moldova has announced a series of measures to reduce energy consumption, including limiting lighting in public and commercial buildings and operating energy-intensive businesses during off-peak hours. The country has also pushed to diversify its natural gas supplies to reduce its dependence on the Kuciurgan plant.
Moldova’s dependence on Russian energy supplies has been a point of contention in the country’s relations with Moscow. In 2022, Moldova suffered major power outages following Russian strikes on neighboring Ukraine, which is interconnected to the Kuciurgan plant.
The move is seen as part of a larger pattern of energy politics in Europe, where countries are seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian gas supplies. Russia cut off most natural gas supplies to Europe in 2022, citing disputes over payment in rubles, a move European leaders described as energy blackmail.