The Moldovan state-owned company Energocom has announced a third tender for the purchase of 1.5 million cubic meters of natural gas. It follows from the documentation that natural gas can be supplied to the country through the checkpoints Alekseevka (Ukraine), Todiresti (Romania) or Moldovan Togatino or Causeni.
The two previous tenders were won by the Polish PGNiG and the Dutch Vitol. Both companies will supply 1 million cubic meters to Moldova. m of gas. Prior to that, Ukraine supplied Moldova with 15 million cubic meters. m of blue fuel on credit to balance the pressure drop in the gas transmission network of the republic.
Moldova this fall faced an energy crisis amid gas shortages. The only fuel supplier for the country, which consumes about 3 billion cubic meters of gas a year, was previously Gazprom, but now the parties cannot agree on a price for a new gas contract. In 2020, it averaged $ 149 per 1,000 cubic meters. m, by September of this year it increased to $ 550, and in October – to market $ 790 per thousand cubic meters. The company “Moldovagaz” in early October reported that fuel consumption in the country temporarily exceeds supplies from Russia, which may lead to problems with electricity.
The Russian holding threatened to stop deliveries to Moldova if it does not pay off the debt for fuel, which, together with the delay in payments, exceeds $ 700 million. In response, Chisinau promised to conduct an independent audit to assess the amount of the debt. While negotiations continue, the Moldovan authorities have introduced an emergency regime to expedite the purchase of natural gas and introduce a rationed consumption regime, if necessary. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Wednesday, October 27th.
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