Moldova began to steal gas from Pridnestrovie, driving the republic into a crisis

The expert is convinced that the conflict is provoked by Kyiv

The gas crisis pushed Moldova to plunder. Such accusations were made by the President of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky. The Republic missed about half of the fuel that it is supposed to. Production stops in the country, people totally save energy resources. The political scientist predicts a new outbreak of the conflict if Tiraspol and Chisinau do not sit down at the negotiating table.

Russian gas is currently supplied to Moldova and Transnistria via two branches. The northern pipeline, through the Ukrainian Ananiev, carries about a million cubic meters of gas per day. From this volume, the Pridnestrovian regions – Rybnitsa and Kamensky are supplied with reverse. The second pipe stretches from Romania and passes directly through Rybnitsa. Tiraspol has repeatedly offered to receive gas from it directly, but Chisinau persists, maintaining a lever of pressure on the republic.

Under the terms of the agreement between Moldovagaz and Gazprom, 171 million cubic meters of fuel are supplied to Chisinau every month, of which 118 million go to Pridnestrovie. Moldova unilaterally cut this volume to 69 million cubic meters, leaving 102 million for itself.

“Moldova needs about 75 million cubic meters per month to meet its needs. It turns out that they took the gas that they absolutely do not need. What are they doing with it? They accumulate it in the gas pipe that goes to Iasi, use it as a storage cylinder,” Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said. He suggested that the fuel is accumulated for a rainy day, or driven into Ukrainian gas storage facilities.

At this time, due to a lack of gas in Pridnestrovie, industrial enterprises stop. So, in October, the work was stopped by a metallurgical plant and a cement plant. School holidays have been extended by a week. And until December 1, a state of emergency is in effect in the republic, citizens are called for austerity of energy.

The republic has already turned to Moscow for help in solving this problem, said Vitaly Ignatiev, Foreign Minister of Pridnestrovie. He added that a simple increase in Russian gas supplies will not change the situation, because Chisinau will also take it away, which means that direct intervention by the Kremlin is necessary. However, the diplomat did not say what mechanisms could be used to get out of the current situation.

About how Pridnestrovie can get out of this situation, “MK” talked with political scientist Sergei Markov.

– The general situation with gas is very complicated. Everything goes through the territory of Ukraine, and Kyiv does not allow this branch to work normally. He is trying to use this situation for a big gas conflict. And to demonstrate: if you are with Russia, you will live in hunger and cold.

– Can Moldova deprive the PMR of gas at all?

– Theoretically, it can, but it is unlikely to go for it. On the one hand, Kyiv puts pressure on the fact that let’s fight with Transnistria. And Moldova really does not want this to affect them. This gas conflict is only part of a wider political crisis.

– How can this situation be resolved?

– Pridnestrovie should try to negotiate with the Moldovan leadership. And if nothing comes out of this, then you will have to go to conflict. There are no other options.