Russia’s Gazprom To Stop Gas Supplies To Moldova On Jan. 1

Gazprom, Russia's state-owned energy giant, announced that it would halt gas supplies to Moldova beginning January 1, citing alleged unpaid debt.

Moldova's government has called the gas cutoff an act of energy weaponization. I Photo: Government.ru 

The European Union (EU) candidate country has introduced emergency measures to brace for potential power outages, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

In a statement, Gazprom reserved the right to take further actions, including terminating its contract with Moldovagaz, Moldova's primary gas operator, in which Gazprom holds a majority stake.

The gas supply cutoff will also impact the Kuciurgan power plant in the pro-Russian separatist Transnistria region. This plant generates electricity for much of Moldova.

Moldova's government, which has leaned toward the West and frequently accused Russia of interference, called the gas cutoff an act of energy weaponization.

The Kuciurgan plant was privatized in 2004 by Transnistrian officials and later acquired by a Russian state-owned entity, a move Moldova does not recognize. Earlier this month, Moldova's parliament imposed a state of emergency in the energy sector, fearing a winter energy crisis.