The Commission for Emergency Situations in Moldova ordered Moldovagaz to pay the debt to Gazprom by the end of the day. The decision document was posted on Thursday, January 20, on the official website of the Moldovan government.
“Moldovagaz” will ensure full payment by the end of January 20, 2022 to “Gazprom” 50% of the cost of natural gas for January,” the commission’s published decision reads.
To do this, the authorities will give Moldovagaz a deferment in paying value added tax until March 30, and will also allocate in advance the funds provided to compensate household consumers for the increase in gas prices so that Moldovagaz can pay off its debts.
On the same day in Moldova, the country’s parliament introduced a state of emergency due to the onset of the gas crisis. It will be valid for 60 days.
On Wednesday, January 19, it became known that Gazprom informed Moldovagaz about the termination of gas supplies if it does not receive the next payment by January 20. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, in turn, explained that the supplied gas must be paid for. Therefore, according to him, there is no “double bottom” in this issue.
On Tuesday, January 18, Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova Andrei Spinu turned to the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, with a request to help solve the gas crisis. According to the minister, on January 20, JSC Moldovagaz must pay for the gas consumed from January 1 to 15, but the company does not have enough to pay $ 25-32 million.
On January 11, it was reported that Spinu was discussing with Gazprom the possibility of canceling the advance payment for gas. According to him, Moldova is faced with another stage of the energy crisis due to rising gas prices. In December, the purchase price for gas was $450 per thousand cubic meters, and in January it was already about $646.
In October 2021, Moldovagaz and Gazprom extended the contract for the supply of blue fuel for five years. For the Republic of Moldova, a new formula for calculating the cost of this energy carrier was approved, taking into account the ratio of market prices for gas and oil. The main conditions of the new contract were timely payments and repayment of debts for gas from Moldovan consumers.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
