On ice Moldova’s industry due to lack of Russian gas

Almost all industrial activities in Transnistria, its pro-Russian region, except food production, ceased after the Russian flow ended through Ukraine, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. “The government will do anything to help economic agents send industrial products,” Interfax said. “At the moment, the situation is manageable and predictable, but if the gas supply problem is not resolved, businesses will lose restart capability”. CORVERSE The area of approximately 350,000 residents suffered a major blow after the shutdown of the gas flow through Ukraine by the Russian giant Gazprom on January 1, when the five-year transit agreement ended without any alternative, despite months of political disputes. Obolonik said that, by January 5, it would be clear how much energy households will need and how much can be directed to industry, including Moldova Steel Works and a number of other strategic companies, according to Bloomberg. The approximately 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas imported by Moldova annually from Gazprom in the last two years were being delivered to Transnistria. This area used the fuel for its own consumption and for the production of electricity also provided to the rest of the country. CORVERSE Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean warned of an imminent humanitarian crisis in Transnistria and said the situation was deliberately caused by Russia to destabilise the entire country. “We face this situation as a security crisis aimed at allowing pro-Russian forces to return to power in Moldova and arm our territory against Ukraine, with which we share borders of 1,200 kilometres long,” Rechean said in a statement on the government’s website. On 1 January, the local gas supplier Tiraspoltransgaz discontinued fuel deliveries to residents, while Tirasteploenergo discontinued heating and hot water supply, with the exception of hospitals and other social care facilities. Moldova’s natural gas company Moldovagaz, along with state energy company Energocom, is ready to help Tiraspoltransgaz buy the fuel on any European gas platform, Vadim Keban (Vadim Ceban), head of the company, said Thursday (2.1.2024).