Official announcements from the Moldovan government or international news agencies

Moldova Declares 60-Day State of Emergency Amid Threat of Russian Gas Cutoff

Dec 13, 2024, 06:35 AM

Moldova's parliament has declared a state of emergency for 60 days starting December 16, in anticipation of a potential cut-off of Russian gas supplies from January 1, 2025. The decision was made in response to the impending expiration of the transit contract between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine, through which Moldova receives its gas. Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that this move aims to prevent energy blackmail by Russia and to ensure gas supply to the breakaway region of Transnistria, which relies heavily on Russian gas for its economy and energy needs. The state of emergency allows the government to react quickly and restrict energy exports. Moldova receives about 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia, with all supplies directed to Transnistria since 2022. Transnistria has already declared its own economic emergency, and alternative gas supply routes through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania via the TurkStream pipeline are being considered. However, Gazprom has linked the continuation of deliveries via these routes to Moldova's payment of its debts, which amount to around $709 million.