Moldova preparing to put gas market on high alert over Sudzha gas metering station situation

CHISINAU. Aug 8 (Interfax) - The Moldovan Energy Ministry is preparing to put the gas market in a state of high alert.

The ministry said on its website that this follows a suggestion by Romanian gas transmission system operator of Vestmoldtransgaz, which operates the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau pipeline between Romania and Moldova "in connection with the information received from the Ukrainian GTS regarding the situation at the Sudzha gas metering station in Russia."

"Today, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov convened gas industry companies and heard reports on the current situation in the energy sector, including potential risks and the procedure for managing them. Based on the data provided by the companies, it was established that the conditions for putting the natural gas market on high alert have been met," the ministry said.

The Moldovan Emergency Situations Commission will look at the ministry's proposals.

Parlicov said "the region's gas system is operating relatively normally, which indicates that Ukraine and Russia are paying the closest attention to gas infrastructure."

"At the moment, there is no immediate threat to gas supplies to the left bank of the Dniester being halted, but we need time to react and solve problems if they arise. In places where military operations are taking place, there are things that do not depend on us and that we cannot control, so we must be prepared for any scenario," Parlicov said.

According to operators, natural gas is being supplied through Ukraine to the Transdniestria region as normal, while there are sufficient volumes of gas for the right bank of the Dniester, including guaranteed reserves and volumes contracted by market operators, the Energy Ministry said.