Russia's Gazprom Threatens To Cut Off Gas Supply To Moldova

Russia’s energy company Gazprom has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Moldova, citing unpaid bills, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: A Gazprom structure and transport

Gazprom said that Moldova owed the gas giant $433 million but the obligation has ballooned to $709 million due to additional penalties, Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov told TASS state news agency on Saturday.

"At the same time, Moldova's representatives - for whatever reason - do not want to recognize this accumulated debt," he said. The authorities in Moldova announced a month-long state of emergency on Friday, amid a serious gas supply crisis.

The Gazprom spokesman said Moldova would no longer receive gas from Russia as of December 1 if the contract, which expired in September, had not been extended by then.

Gazprom wants to comply with the Moldovan government's request that the company continue supplies in October and November, but the government must first pay its bills for September and October, the spokesperson said.

A new contract can only be made once Moldova has paid all its debts, Kupriyanov said. He said the dispute was not about politics but said that the company could not afford losses.

"There are limits to patience. Moldova is provoking the crisis itself," he said. "You have to pay on time for goods you receive."

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic