Tiraspol ready to buy gas via Moldovagaz - Transdniestrian leader
TIRASPOL. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Tiraspol is ready to buy gas via Moldovagaz, President of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky said.
"Transdniestria is ready for gas supply via Moldovagaz. Tiraspoltransgaz sent a letter to Moldovagaz back on Saturday and guaranteed payment for the gas. You should keep your promise now," Krasnoselsky said at a meeting of the headquarters for response to the energy crisis on Monday.
He recalled a statement by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who said that Chisinau would allow gas transit only on those terms.
As Transdniestria found a gas supplier licensed in Moldova, "Chisinau put up fierce resistance," Krasnoselsky said.
"Everyone is trying to take the maximum advantage of the gas problem. They are looking for conspiracies. There is no conspiracy, people live in cold homes. The condition of supply via Moldovagaz has been accepted. Tiraspol is waiting for Chisinau's response," he said.
It was reported last week that a Moldovan company, Natural Gaz DC SRL, was going to supply gas to Transdniestria under a contract with Tiraspoltransgaz.
Acting Moldovagaz Board Chairman Vadim Ceban said he was surprised by statements on the contract signed between Natural Gaz DC and Tiraspoltransgaz. He said that Tiraspoltransgaz was a subsidiary of Moldovagaz, and Moldovagaz was the only company allowed to supply gas to Transdniestria.
Theoretically, buyers, including those from Transdniestria, could buy gas from any company licensed by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), given gas market liberalization.
"However, there are laws that must be complied with. For instance, debts to the previous supplier must be paid. The current debt of Tiraspoltransgaz to Moldova exceeds $9 billion. There are court orders regarding these debts. Correspondingly, Moldovagaz owes the money to Gazprom. This is the debt of Transdniestria for Russian gas. Tiraspoltransgaz cannot buy gas from another company without clarifying this issue," Ceban said.
He also said that Moldovagaz and the Energocom state company purchased a small amount of gas in the European market and delivered it to the Transdniestrian border on January 2. However, Tiraspoltransgaz refused to buy gas in the European market under the pretext that it had no money. Tiraspol said it would wait for resumption of Russian gas supply.
Now, in case of the agreement to buy gas, Moldovagaz and Energocom will be compelled to buy gas for Tiraspoltransgaz in the European market. Gazprom may also supply gas under an agreement with Moldovagaz. In that case, the agreement will have to be amended to change the delivery point. Tiraspoltransgaz will have to pay for gas transit.
Gazprom stopped supplying gas to Transdniestria on January 1. It explained the decision with the non-fulfillment of contractual obligations by Moldovagaz and the failure to pay the historical debt of $709 million.
There is no gas supply to 122 populated localities in Transdniestria. This includes 51,507 rural households, over 20,000 private houses in cities, and 1,800 legal entities and entrepreneurs. For now, gas supply continues to 17 social facilities, 79 stores, and a hundred public catering establishments.
All industrial enterprises but critical infrastructure have ceased operation. The Moldovan GRES switched to coal, and its two units are generating electricity for the population. However, widespread use of electric appliances drastically increased consumption and strain on power networks. That caused numerous accidents, and rolling blackouts began on January 3.