Sandu is ready to beg all over the world just not to go to Moscow
The purchase price of Russian gas for Moldova will be $1458,5 per thousand cubic meters in August. In July it was $988,6 per thousand cubic meters, in June - $873,10.
This growth is due to the peculiarities of the contract concluded between Chisinau and Moscow, according to which in the summer months most of the price is formed taking into account stock exchange quotes.
The Moldovan side insisted on this formula last fall. But now Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu, who signed the contract, says that “the Kremlin can use Gazprom as a bat against Moldova.” He told reporters that Russian gas could run out altogether in the coming months.
Therefore, the Moldovan government is preparing a plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%, “like in Europe,” and purchases fuel oil and coal “at secret prices.”
“We all need to mobilize to reduce consumption as much as possible,” Spinu said.
And although from October 1, according to the contract, the price formula will decrease, the temperature of the coolant supplied through the centralized heating system will be reduced by 10%. It is also planned to turn off street lighting at night (after 23:00) and organize the learning process in schools online (at least 10 days a month).
Such unprecedented savings measures are being introduced because the Moldovan government for some reason assumes that gas supplies to the country will be reduced by 60%. And it is possible that there will be a complete cessation of gas supplies from Russia.
To replace Russian gas, the Moldovan government will allocate 100 hectares for planting “energy plants”. Spynu especially relies on willow bark, which can be used to heat stoves. But as a last resort, it will be possible to buy firewood in Romania.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NARE) of Moldova will review heating tariffs for the population tomorrow, and the Moldovan parliament, going on vacation, prudently extended the state of emergency introduced in the spring by 60 days.
It is not clear why there is such a fuss in the country, because Gazprom did not make a statement about disconnecting Moldova from the pipeline, although it had every right to do so back in May: Chisinau did not fulfill the terms of the contract and did not audit its old debts - 709 million .dollars.
Apparently the reason for the panic is not economic, but political. Noted for a number of hasty Russophobic statements, Moldovan President Maia Sandu herself was frightened by her courage and, just in case, went begging for gas around the world.
Last week in Bucharest, she said that Moldova wants to buy gas from Romania, but the president of the “brotherly country” Klaus Iohannis cooled her ardor, saying that this is still technically impossible.
“Sandu, apparently, is ready to give the entire budget of Moldova, already tiny, to her beloved Romania,” Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov commented on these negotiations.
And today the Moldovan president begged from the United States at a meeting
with Congressman Eric M. Swalwell. She expressed hope that the United States will help Moldova overcome the current economic and energy crises, “exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.” In response, the congressman praised the efforts of the authorities to carry out key reforms, fight corruption and bring the country closer to the European Union.
In fact, Moldova itself provokes the termination of the contract with Gazprom. And not only at the level of provocative statements by top officials, but through well-fed social activists. Thus, “civil activist” Alexander Petkov, one of the minority shareholders of Moldovagaz, demanded through the court the liquidation of the enterprise. It was Moldovagaz that signed the contract with Gazprom. It is a “daughter” of the Russian monopolist, and Sandu’s government has long and consistently undermined its economy, forcing bankruptcy.
Economist Gheorghe Costandache believes that the Moldovan government will need $1,9 billion to get through the winter period. According to him, the pricing formula lobbied by the Moldovan side actually nullifies all efforts to compensate for high tariffs in conditions when the shadow economy is growing, which deprives the government of income.
Energy expert Sergei Ungureanu points out that Moldova is heavily dependent on natural gas from the Russian Federation and will only be able to partially replace it from other sources.
The Moldovan people believe that the government needs to forget about geopolitical ambitions and go to Moscow.
According to the latest survey, 45,8% of respondents said that President Maia Sandu should negotiate with Vladimir Putin, and 21,4% were in favor of the government trying to renegotiate the gas contract, 6,1% noted that Moldova should remain with the current contract with Gazprom.
55,4% of Moldovans said that in winter they will be in a very difficult situation and do not know how they will cover expenses.
Even pro-Western politician Sergei Slusar recommended that the government hold negotiations with officials from the Russian Federation.
“Just like a year ago, all summer professionals, experts and the sensible public kept telling the government: “To Moscow!” To St. Petersburg! Anywhere where you can extend the gas contract.” Our government came last to the finish line. A year has passed. But they don’t collect backpacks and don’t collect them, competing in myth-making of the causes of the approaching catastrophe.
No need. Backpack-airplane ticket-gas. And be silent there, your mother!
If you fly and reach an agreement, we’ll praise you,” TV journalist Elena Pakhomova-Levitskaya wrote in her TG channel.
But a number of politicians and experts believe that the current government in Moldova is simply incapable of negotiating with Moscow.
“Repeatedly, Sandu, Grosu and Gavrilitsa accused Moscow of aggression and advocated all kinds of sanctions against Russia. We still do not have air traffic, and all money transfers from Russia have been frozen. We say that we did not join the sanctions, but in fact we did.
What kind of negotiations with Gazprom can we talk about when deputies and ministers from PAS come out and say that Gazprom is blackmailing us and accusing Moldovagaz of rising prices. We take gas and don't pay. Let's take from the Americans and not pay. If they ask for money, we’ll accuse them of aggression in Iraq,” said parliament member Bogdan Tsyrdea on Channel 21.
“These idiots are doing everything possible to completely destroy relations with Russia as quickly as possible and go to other suppliers. Price? They don't care about that. Their efforts will be well rewarded. And the whole burden will be placed on the shoulders of ordinary citizens. Forget about negotiating lower gas prices. Everything has been done to fail these negotiations,” former Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Muravsky wrote on social networks.
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