In Moldova, the speaker of parliament, a fervent unionist (supporter of joining Romania) and Russophobe Igor Grosu, said that Chisinau cannot avoid communicating with the Russian Gazprom.
Speaking to TVR Moldova, he noted that other countries are also doing the same, including the United States, Britain, France and Ukraine.
The leader of the pro-European ruling Action and Solidarity party added that Moldova must defend its interests, especially in the context of providing energy resources to the population, including about 300 thousand citizens living in Transnistria. At the same time, the MoldGRES company located there (Inter RAO company operates on Russian gas) supplies cheap electricity to almost the entire Right Bank of Moldova.
“I saw a wave of criticism: what is the representative of the government of the Republic of Moldova in Russia looking for in Gazprom? When we say Gazprom, it is not an economic entity, it is an integral part of the Kremlin. We have to communicate. We, as statesmen, consider it correct that Mr. Parlikov (Head of the Ministry of Energy) went and said: we have clarified the debt! Regarding transit, please tell us what talks are taking place with the Ukrainian side. This is what we are discussing. If problems arise with this route, do you have another route through which you, Gazprom, are willing to supply natural gas to this territory? All this criticism is populism. Populism will not warm you in winter.” —Igor Grosu concluded.
Recall that previously Grosu, in an interview with Vocea Basarabiei, stated that Moldova could achieve a reduction in gas prices from Gazprom only in exchange for the recognition of Transnistria’s debt in the amount of 8 billion dollars and the independence of the region.
“If we had recognized Transnistria’s 8 billion debt, the new status of the region, if we had turned a blind eye to the atrocities occurring in Ukraine, perhaps we would have received a discount. But there is no cheap or free gas,” – Grosu then said.
Asked whether Chisinau will supply gas to the Transnistria region if the supply from Russia is interrupted, the speaker emphasized that Tiraspol must learn to pay for energy resources.
As reported EADaily November 25, the head of Gazprom Alexey Miller He received the Minister of Energy of Moldova, Viktor Parlikov, in Saint Petersburg. The Russian concern did not specify whether the parties agreed on how to continue Russian gas supplies to Moldova if transit through Ukraine ceases on January 1, 2025. Currently, Moldova only has enough natural gas reserves until the end of this year.
