Energy Ministry State Secretary presents alternative solutions for Tiraspoltransgaz's natural gas procurement

Chisinau, Jan. 3 /MOLDPRES/- Energy Ministry State Secretary Constantin Borosan explained that there are several viable alternative solutions for the purchase of natural gas by Tiraspoltransgaz to meet the needs of the Transnistrian region.

According to Borosan, one solution would be the purchase on BRM EST Moldova natural gas exchange. In October 2024, representatives of Tiraspoltransgaz held meetings at the BRM headquarters to understand the modalities of trading on the exchange. Moldovagaz has the largest experience of purchases on BRM and shared this experience with Tiraspoltransgaz, he says.

Tiraspoltransgaz would also be able to purchase gas on exchanges in the region, such as Bulgaria's Balkan Gas Hub, and transport it to the border with Moldova. In this regard, on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, Energocom, under a contract with Moldovagaz, delivered 240 MWh of natural gas to Moldovagaz on a trial basis. "This has demonstrated that from the commercial and logistical point of view it is commercially and logistically possible the alternative route for gas supply to the Transnistrian region through the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline in reverse mode," Borosan said.

He added that another viable solution is to implement the Energy Package 3 in the Transnistrian region by separating the supply activity from the transmission and distribution activity - unbundling, obtaining a license for supply or trading and purchasing natural gas from any source on the globe. "For example, Energocom has brought liquefied natural gas right from the United States," the official pointed out.

Starting January 1, Gazprom suspended the delivery of natural gas to Moldovagaz. All the gas that was supplied until January 1 by Gazprom was directed to Tiraspoltransgaz. As a result of Gazprom's decision, as of January 1, 2025, the Transnistrian region's enterprises have stopped the supply of natural gas, central heating and hot water to several settlements, and households in the localities controlled by the constitutional authorities Varnitsa, Cocieri, Corjova, Koshnitsa, Doroțcaia, Molovata Noua, Pârâta, Pohrebea, Vasilievca, Copanca, Hagimus and Fârlădeni were also disconnected.

Earlier, Tiraspoltransgaz disconnected from the natural gas network several public institutions in localities controlled by the constitutional authorities, including schools, hospitals and cultural institutions. The heating supply was also cut off to penitentiaries No 8 and No 12, the territorial subdivisions of the police and prosecutor's offices of the Republic of Moldova located in the city of Bender.

According to the information of the government's crisis cell, 131 schools, 147 kindergartens and 130 "administrative" buildings in the Transnistrian region are disconnected from the heating supply system. According to Tiraspol officials, the existing reserves will be sufficient to supply natural gas to the unused facilities by January 10 in the northern part of the region and by January 20 in the southern part of the region.