31 Aug 2022 16:57

Moldovan president sees risks of Russian gas supply cutoff, calls on citizens to economize

CHISINAU. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Maia Sandu said she has concerns that Gazprom will stop gas supplies to the country.

"There is a risk that Gazprom will stop gas supplies. However, even if we are not disconnected, the tendency is such that the gas prices will become unaffordable," Sandu said in an interview with Vocea Basarabiei radio on Wednesday.

She called on the population in this situation to minimize gas consumption in the upcoming cold season.

"We are trying to do that for the heating system in Chisinau, where we can use heating oil. Moldova has been faced with a crisis of energy resources because very little was done previously on renewable energy resources. In a situation of an acute crisis, the results cannot be outstanding," the president said.

Gas is available on the market, but at very high prices, and it is very difficult to find energy resources at a lower price, she said.

"The government has announced a program to support the population. I hope we will help low-income people in this difficult period," Sandu said.

According to earlier reports, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Andrei Spinu and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller discussed on Tuesday and Wednesday gas supplies and an audit of Moldovagaz's historical debt to Gazprom. Spinu wrote on a social network that Gazprom had confirmed the volumes of gas supplies to Moldova for September and had extended the audit deadline to October 1. Moldova is asking for the audit deadline to be extended until March 31, 2023.