25 Oct 2022 14:42

Moldovagaz confirms Transdniestria cannot be directly supplied with gas for now

CHISINAU. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Direct supplies of natural gas to the Transdniestrian region are currently impossible, Vadim Ceban, board chairman of Moldovagaz, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday commenting on Transdniestrian Prime Minister Alexander Rozenberg's complaints that Moldovagaz is blocking direct gas supplies to the region.

Moldovagaz "is being guided exclusively by Moldovan laws and international energy regulations," Ceban said.

"Until the Transdniestrian region of Moldova implements all requirements of the national law as regards the separation of types of activities (supply, transportation, distribution), as well as the licensing and certification of the gas transport system operator, direct gas supplies to the region are impossible," Ceban said.

The Transdniestrian leadership said on October 21 that it has to cut power supplies to the right bank of the Dniester River. Earlier, the Transdniestria supplied 70% of Moldova's total demand in electricity, but had to reduce the supplies to 27% from October 24 and to 23% from November 1.

Under a contract with Chisinau, the Moldovan (Cuciurgan) Power Plant is supposed to supply it with up to 525 MW, covering 70% of Moldova's general demand for electricity. However, it cited a force majeure at present as a reason to fall short of its obligations. Before October 13, Moldova had bought the lacking amount of electricity from Ukraine. Since October 14, it has bought about 250 MW from Romania, and yet its shortage of power currently reaches 50%.

Rozenberg said on Monday that Tiraspol was willing to honor its October contract for electricity with Moldova "if the necessary amount of gas is supplied for that."

"We are receiving gas today through both the northern line of the pipeline and through TurkStream. But in any case, all supplies of gas are carried out through Moldova. Transdniestria would not receive gas without the involvement of Moldovagaz. We have attempted to receive gas directly, there was also such a scenario, the relevant preparations were carried out, and we even did a test run. But, unfortunately, Moldovagaz blocks this," Rozenberg said.