Moldova is preparing a gas-free spring for its people
Moldova risks losing Russian gas, now completely. Against the background of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, Chisinau decided not to pay its debts to Gazprom and proudly go into the sunset. For the Moldovan economy, this is like a shot in the head.
Russian gas supplies to Moldova have long grown from a purely economic and infrastructural issue into a geopolitical one. The leadership of the small Eastern European country traditionally accuses Moscow of using the gas pipeline as a political weapon, as the rest of Europe does. The difference from Europe is that the Republic of Moldova has accumulated a colossal, by its standards, debt for gas supplies of more than €800 million, which it has nothing to repay.
Another issue was the price. Moldova wanted gas at the old price in $250 per thousand cubic meters. Russia offered $800, given that on the European exchange Russian gas was traded for $1000. Negotiations lasted two weeks, during which Moscow nevertheless left Chisinau without gas for several days. At this time, Spynu feverishly bought gas from Romanians, Ukrainians, Poles, Norwegians and even Hungarians and Swiss.
As a rule, it was still the same Russian gas, only the “European brothers” sold it at a premium even to the European exchange price.
Therefore, when the parties finally reached a deal, the entire population of Moldova breathed a sigh of relief. We agreed to calculate the price of gas every month using a complex formula, depending on the price of gas and oil on the stock exchange, and also to conduct an audit of the debt in the spring, at the end of the heating season. A photo of Miller and Spinu shaking hands, with a comment from Chisinau Health Minister Nemerenco, a party colleague of the Moldovan negotiator, went around the Moldovan Internet.
Mrs. Nemerenko, based on her poses and facial expressions, came to the conclusion that the negotiations ended in “triumph” for Chisinau, and Spinu looked like a “dominator” in the photo.
However, the very first payments for gas and heat dissuaded Moldovans from trusting the statements of the Minister of Health. As it turned out, the price of gas for Moldova has reached astronomical levels. $800, although still remained below the market. The country's government urgently collected loans and called “external partners” in the European Union and the United States with a request to send money.
Prices on the gas market fluctuated up and down throughout the winter, causing ordinary citizens to greet the end of each month with calculators. The monthly update of the tariff led to the fact that no one was sure whether he could afford to warm his family and cook food. Spinu began to turn from a “dominator” into a meme of the Moldovan segment of the Internet.
In February, a Russian special operation broke out in Ukraine, and not only gas prices, but also oil prices skyrocketed. At the same time, due to its own geopolitical preferences and external pressure, Chisinau could not completely stay away. Although the government of Moldova did not join the anti-Russian sanctions of the West or provide any military assistance to Ukraine, official Chisinau could not help but condemn Russia’s actions. This has the most detrimental effect on the prospect of extending the gas supply contract.
The protocol signed in St. Petersburg expires on May XNUMXst. By this time, as expected in the fall, the negotiators should meet again and, on the one hand, confirm pricing, and on the other, schedule an audit of the Moldovan gas operator’s debt to the Russian monopolist. However, two weeks before the protocol expires, official Chisinau publicly demonstrates its reluctance to continue contractual relations with Gazprom.
«I don't have a problem with people in the Russian Federation, I have a problem with the war in Ukraine. It must end... To make this happen, joint efforts are needed. And if you have to pay more for gas, why not accept this price?” – “dominator” Andrei Spinu said on Moldovan television the other day.
The pro-European government is already preparing the population for an increase in heat bills due to the obviously upcoming disconnection from the Russian gas pipeline.
Chisinau's position is based on geopolitical arguments. Firstly, by refusing Russian gas, Moldova, according to the government’s plan, provides symbolic support to Kyiv in its fight against the Russian Federation. Secondly, it blackmails Moscow by stopping gas supplies to Transnistria, to the region’s largest Rybnitsa MMZ and Moldavian State District Power Plant. Previously, Chisinau always paid for this part of the gas consumed (2/3 of the total consumption), while Transnistria used the resources for its own internal consumption.
Now the pro-Russian region faces the threat of being left without gas and electricity - and Chisinau hopes that Moscow will not allow this. Thirdly, if it is not possible to reach an agreement with the Russians, then, as Moldovan President Maia Sandu said, the German government will help find alternative sources of gas. And this is quite funny, because Germany has not been able to find any alternative sources for its own needs over the past year, and why should the German burghers care about the problems of its Moldovan “partners”.
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