Moldovan infrastructure minister says government to negotiate advantageous contract with Gazprom, prepares alternatives

Chisinau, 11 October /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s government will participate in the negotiations with the Russian concern Gazprom, within a joint working group, in order to get a correct and justified price for natural gas, with a long-term contract, due to ensure a good cost for Moldova.  Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Andrei Spinu made statements to this effect at a news conference on the supply with gas, following the visit to St. Petersburg, Russia.  

According to Andrei Spinu, the cabinet is set to sign an advantageous contract with Gazprom. Yet, at the same time, the government prepares a winter package, due to protect the social categories and the disadvantaged industries. At the same time, Chisinau considers possibility to use alternative fuels.   

The official said that, in St. Petersburg, he had met the deputy president of the Gazprom Management Committee, Director General of Gazprom Export Elena Burmistrova. ‘’I agreed with Mrs. Burmistrova to implement our joint agenda and namely the Third Energy Package of the current debts between Moldovagaz and Gazprom and we discussed the signing of a long-term agreement on gas supply. To advance in this respect, we will start the discussions with a team of Gazprom, in order to accept a working plan. Moldova wants a correct, transparent and non-conflict approach,’’ Spinu said.    

The infrastructure minister said that he hoped that, till late October, he would meet CEO of the Russian Energy Company Gazprom Alexey Miller. ‘’The price established for October would be unjustified and non-realistic for Moldova. Also, it is not in accordance with the way the contracts have been earlier signed between Moldovagaz and Gazprom. In this context, we asked to extend the contract at the old conditions, at the level of the last years or this year and simultaneously, to extend the discussions on the common agenda. No matter the situation, we have already a plan for any eventuality,’’ Andrei Spinu said.      

According to the infrastructure and regional development minister, this plan is based on two aspects: the first one sees the signing of a long-term contract on gas supply with the best price for Moldova, which is to ensure the country’s energy security; the second aspect is the support of the citizens to overcome the complicated winter.   

Andrei Spinu stressed that, for the time being, there was no reason for concern. ‘’The situation is complicated; yet, it is about a crisis on the gas market all over the world. We discuss together with the development partners; we seek to identify alternative solutions of gas supply, if we get to this scenario. We make the process of preparing the reserve fuel be ready, and we are ready to use alternative thermal agent and if necessary, to reduce the gas consumption. These are natural reserve measures in the present conditions,’’ Andrei Spinu noted.     

As for the decrease in the volume of supply of electric energy by the Kuchurgan power station, the deputy prime minister assured that ‘’presently, the quantity of electric energy supplied from this source fully covers the country’s consumption and there is no risk.’’  

On 7-8 October, Deputy PM Andrei Spinu participated in the works of the International Gas Forum, held in St. Petersburg.  

Photo: Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry