Moldova confirms Gazprom has not booked capacity for gas transit to Transnistria for Jan

CHISINAU. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Moldova's Energy Ministry has confirmed reports that Russian gas giant Gazprom has not reserved pipeline capacity for gas transit to the unrecognized Transnistria republic for January 2025.

"Moldovan specializes are in contact with colleagues from countries on the Trans-Balkan route and know that Gazprom has not reserved transport capacity for January 2025," the ministry's press service said. In the course of auctions held on December 16, capacity was reserved by international traders.

"Capacity was reserved on the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline at the following junctions: at the border of Turkey and Bulgaria (Malkoclar/Strandja 2) about 2.55 million cubic meters per day of transport capacity was reserved, 3.58 mcm/day remains available; at the border of Bulgaria and Romania (Cardam/Negru Voda 1) about 0.9 mcm/day was reserved, 8.77 mcm/day remains available; at the border of Romania and Ukraine (Isaccea 1/Orlivka) transport capacity was not reserved, 10.35 mcm/day remains available; at the border of Romania and Moldova (Ungheni/Ungheni) about 4.45 mcm/day of transport capacity was reserved, 1.65 mcm/day remains available," the ministry said.

The ministry recalled that Gazprom will supply 5.7 mcm of gas per day to Transnistria in the period to the end of December. The gas is being transported through Ukraine.

"Daily natural gas consumption on the left bank of the Dniester in January, including at the Moldavskaya GRES [power plant] for production of electricity for the left bank, is estimated at up to 3.7 mcm per day without the implementation of measures to increase consumption efficiency. If the Moldavskaya GRES operates on coal, industry reduces activity to a minimum and measures are taken to reduce consumption, the Transnistria region's daily consumption in January is estimated at 2.3 mcm to 2.7 mcm per day," the ministry said.

The next auction to reserve transport capacity for January will be held daily starting December 31 and throughout all of January. In the event of daily booking, gas transit will cost more.

The Moldovan government does not rule out the possibility that Russian gas supplies to Transnistria will be halted after January 1. In light of this, Moldova's parliament, at the government's request, decided to impose a state of emergency for 60 days starting December 16. The administration of Transnistria earlier imposed a state of emergency in the economy for 30 days starting December 11.

If Russian gas stops flowing to Transnistria, Moldova will face disruptions in power supplies, as the country buys about 70% of the electricity it needs from the Moldavskaya GRES plant, which is located in the unrecognized republic.