Expert: Russia’s Gas Offer to Transnistria Requires Ukraine Transit, Moldovan Debt Settlement
Russia’s announcement of gas supplies as humanitarian aid to Transnistria aims to counter Moldova and Ukraine’s attempts to link the suspension of gas deliveries to a Gazprom decision, according to Igor Juschkow, a finance expert at the Russian Government’s Financial University and the National Energy Security Fund.
Gazprom would indeed be willing to supply gas to Transnistria, but not to Moldova, even if the Ukraine transit is resumed, Juschkow said. The key condition for a new contract would be the settlement of Moldova’s outstanding debts. Transnistria, he emphasized, can only receive gas through the Ukraine transit, as it is physically impossible to pump gas through Romania and Moldova.
The expert also expressed doubts about the feasibility of humanitarian gas deliveries through Moldova, citing the potential for the gas to be diverted for Moldova’s own use. The gas volume must be controlled to ensure it is used for household consumption, not for power generation, Juschkow added, as Transnistria might try to use the gas to generate electricity and sell it to Moldova.
Transnistria’s government has announced that Russia will supply gas as humanitarian aid, with the route still to be decided. An economist, Iwan Lisan, believes Russia has both diplomatic and political means to resolve the gas issues in Transnistria. Since the beginning of the year, Transnistria and Moldova have been cut off from Russian gas due to the Ukraine transit suspension and Moldova’s refusal to settle its debt with Gazprom. As a result, Transnistria is in a complete gas blockade, with the authorities implementing austerity measures, including the shutdown of central heating, hot water, and industrial operations.