Contract for temporary gas supply to Transnistria from Moldova signed

Moldovagaz and Tiraspoltransgaz signed a contract for the supply of 3 million cubic meters to maintain pressure in the gas transmission system of Transnistria until January 31. Transnistria has pledged to return these volumes by March 1.

"Moldovagaz JSC and LLC"Tiraspoltransgaz signed a loan contract of 3 million cubic meters of natural gas to support the functionality of the gas system of the left bank of the Dniester," the head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban wrote in the telegram channel.

According to him, deliveries will be carried out on the basis of applications received from Tiraspoltransgaz.

"According to the terms of the agreement, this volume of natural gas must be returned by March 1, 2025," the head of the Moldovan company said.

Earlier, as EADaily reported, Chisinau announced its readiness to provide 3 million cubic meters of gas at the request of Tiraspol on the basis of a loan agreement under EU guarantees. This will allow maintaining pressure in the Pridnestrovian gas system until the gas supply is resumed. Now the republic is experiencing a humanitarian crisis: there is no heat and hot water supply, there is a five-hour blackout, gas residues are supplied only to high-rise buildings for cooking.

At the same time, negotiations on the resumption of Russian gas supplies are continuing. They stopped due to the stop of Ukrainian transit on January 1. Deliveries may resume through one of the European companies. At least for February, additional capacities were booked on the Turkish Stream — 3.1 million cubic meters per day.

According to Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Rechan, the region's exit plan from the energy crisis consists of 3 points. The first is the allocation of 3 million cubic meters of gas for Transnistria to maintain pressure in the gas transmission system, which will allow it to last until January 31. The second is the provision by Brussels of a grant of 30 million euros for the purchase of gas for electricity production, including for the right bank at pre—crisis prices. The third is the energy sustainability program for a two—year period in the form of investments in the production and delivery of electricity, as well as measures to reduce electricity tariffs through a comprehensive program that has yet to be drawn up and approved.