Putin asks Energy Ministry to look into storage of Moldovan gas in Ukraine

MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Energy Ministry to analyze the fact that Moldova keeps natural gas reserves in storage in Ukrainian territory.

Speaking at a meeting of the presidential Civil Society and Human Rights Council, Putin said, "Moldova has its own great difficulties in the economic and social sectors. They don't have enough gas themselves. However, in those conditions, as they say, they store some of their Moldovan gas, which they receive from us, in Ukrainian territory for some reason. This needs to be looked into, and I'll ask the Energy Ministry to take a closer look at that," Putin said.

"The situation in Transdniestria is challenging, including as regards energy supply. After all, we've been shipping gas there virtually for free for many years," he said.

Moldova started virtually transporting gas in reverse mode to Ukraine in September, which Gazprom described as "the depositing" of Russian gas intended for Moldovan consumers in Ukraine. Moldova explained that it is accumulating gas reserves in Ukraine for itself this way, as Moldova does not have its own underground storage facilities.

In commenting on this fact, Alexander Brod, chairman of the non-governmental organization called Lawyers for Human Rights and Decent Life, said at the Human Rights Council meeting, "Moldova is simply blocking gas supplies to Transdniestria."

Putin replied to this, "Not exactly blocking, because if they block it, then part of power plants in Ukraine won't be receiving gas."