According to Moldova’s deputy prime minister, a 40% reduction in Russian natural gas exports is affecting the country’s capacity to supply enough energy to its 2.5 million residents, Reuters reported.
The man in charge of negotiating with Moscow, Andrei Spinu, claimed that the Russian gas giant Gazprom had only agreed to provide 5.7 million cubic meters of gas per day, far less than the 11.5 million needed to assure enough electricity.
In a statement, he claimed that the gap prevented the government-run power provider Energocom from finalizing a deal with a thermal plant that generates energy in the tiny state sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine for delivery in November.
Moldova, governed by a pro-Western administration that has condemned the invasion of Ukraine, is dependent on Russian gas and has been severely impacted by an increase in costs since the conflict started.
Moldova, one of the poorest nations in Europe, has a monthly contract with Gazprom that changes depending on the price of gas and oil on the spot market.
Only roughly 30% of the country’s demands can be met by Moldova’s power-generating capability.
It purchases a portion of the remaining electricity from Ukraine, which has ceased all power exports as a result of Russian forces’ strikes on its energy production facilities.
According to Spinu, Energocom purchased 27 million cubic meters of gas in addition to an additional 127 million cubic meters to be kept in reserves in Ukraine for the winter.
