OREANDA-NEWS. July 05, 2012. Moldova is planning to change a scheme of supplies of the Russian natural gas to resolve the problem of the debt of Transndniestria. This was stated on by Vice Premier, Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar. According to him, at present all amounts of the gas are being purchased by the single national operator, joint Moldovan-Russian company Moldovagaz, which deliver the gas to Transdniestria through Tiraspoltransgaz, a company. Tiraspoltransgaz does not settle accounts with Moldovagaz and the debt of Transdniestria for gas received from Moldova exceeds 3.5 bln.

However, this debt is considered the debt of Moldovagaz to Gazprom, which is a bomb threatening energy safety of Moldova. According to Valeriu Lazar, the scheme of the gas supplies to Moldova is planned to be changed under the reorganization of the gas system of the country. In particular, there will be four subsidiaries of Moldovagaz. Three of them will regulate gas supply on the right bank of the Dniester and one on the left bank, in Transdniestria. These subsidiaries will conclude direct contracts on gas supply to exclude new debts of Moldovagaz. The proposal on the change of the scheme will be discussed with Russian partners of Moldova, Valeiru Lazar states.

He thinks it very important to find a way to solve the problem of historical debts of Moldova for gas, including the Transdniestiran indebtedness, as well as to debar new debts. Moldova and Russia arranged to launch negotiations on the Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, Valeriu Lazar reminded.

The document will set forth fundamental principles of cooperation, stipulate reorganization of the gas sector of Moldova taking into account interests of the Russian capital there and guarantee old and new investments made in the context of the EU second and third packages implementation. The agreement will define mechanisms regulating Moldova’s debts for gas and main provisions of a new gas supply contract for Moldova.