What concessions did Transnistria make for Russian gas, and how will it reach Moldova?
Chișinău and Tiraspol have agreed on a gas supply scheme for Transnistria until the end of February.
What happens next remains uncertain. A Hungarian company will purchase the gas for now, while a Dubai-based company will handle the payments.
Tiraspol has agreed to four conditions set by Chișinău in return.
Read more about the agreements between the parties and the remaining uncertainties in the article by NewsMaker (a European Pravda pravda in Moldova) – Four conditions to save Transnistria: why Chișinău allowed Russian gas to flow to Tiraspol.
On 10 February, the Moldovan government approved the transit of gas to Transnistria.
The Hungarian company MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG will purchase the gas, while payments will be handled by JNX General Trading L.L.C., a company registered in Dubai.
Moldovagaz will carry out the transit of this gas from the Romanian border through Moldova's right bank.
The National Emergency Commission approved this delivery after Tiraspol refused a €60 million EU grant to address the energy crisis in Transnistria. Accessing this EU-funded gas would have required Tiraspol to meet several conditions, such as raising energy tariffs to market levels, respecting human rights, and excluding energy-intensive enterprises from support programs.
The new gas supply arrangement also requires certain commitments from Tiraspol.
According to Dorin Recean, Moldovan Prime Minister, these include the release of political prisoners, ensuring the continued broadcasting of Moldova 1 TV channel in Transnistria, dismantling 11 Transnistrian checkpoints set up in 2022, resolving issues regarding the premises of the Evrika Lyceum in Rîbniţa, which is under Chișinău’s control
The agreement provides for the daily supply of 3 million cubic meters of gas for a limited period of 16 days.
The Hungarian company's gas deliveries could begin on 13 February. Moldovan Prime Minister added that "to ensure gas supply for the Transnistrian region on 11-12 February, Moldovagaz may sell 2 million cubic meters and lend an additional 3 million cubic meters, which must be repaid by March 31."
From 1-10 February, Transnistria had been receiving gas under a European grant.
The nature of the relationship between the Hungarian company, the Dubai-based company, Transnistria, and Russia remains unclear.
Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky stated that "the Hungarian supply was made possible with Russian credit and functional support. I thank representatives of the Russian Ministry of Energy for their assistance," he wrote on Telegram.
It is also unknown how long this gas supply arrangement will last and what the consumer tariffs will be. In early February, Krasnoselsky stated that tariffs would gradually increase for consumers.
Additionally, the impact on Transnistria's budget remains uncertain.
Economic expert Veaceslav Ioniță told NewsMaker that if Transnistria receives the planned gas volumes, its economic situation will remain frozen at the previous level.