“Moldova will be supplied with the necessary volumes of natural gas and will spend the coming winter without any worries”, - Vadim Ceban
Chairman of the Board of Moldovagaz stated this in an interview to the newspaper “Ekonomicheskoye Obozreniye Logos-Press”. While commenting on the possible cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine from January 1, 2025, he said that the situation is not easy, but in terms of gas supply there is a great confidence that we will spend this winter without special worries, first of all, it concerns the right bank of the Dniester. “In this respect, Moldova will have the necessary gas volumes, and this is already evident today,” Vadim Ceban said, expressing hope that it is possible to continue gas transit through Ukraine, even if there is no new contract between Gazprom and Naftohaz. According to him, the scheme of payment for transit is likely to change - contracts will be signed by European traders and the operator of the GTS of Ukraine with payment for fuel at the Russian border. Moldova may also resort to this method, and the government is working on this issue. The head of Moldovagaz emphasized that, besides, we have already tested alternative routes of gas supplies. First of all, this is the Trans-Balkan corridor, which is the most realistic and profitable option after the transit through Ukraine. The fulfillment of Moldovagaz's contract with Gazprom can also be continued along this route. “But there are several facts to be taken into account here. For this route, gas goes through Turkish Stream, which, according to our information, is fully contracted for the entire upcoming winter period. We will have to look for additional opportunities. And the second fact is the limited transportation possibilities on the border of Turkey and Bulgaria, which may arise during the winter period,” said Vadim Ceban. He noted that, in addition, there are opportunities for supplies from Europe through Ukraine. However, even here there are not the most favorable aspects for us. The key one is that both gas and logistics are much more expensive. Besides, the volume of possible supplies via this route is also limited, and the risks are quite high. According to Vadim Ceban, what gives the company additional confidence is the gas reserves created to supply gas to consumers during the periods of peak demand. At the moment, Moldovagaz has already purchased 120 million cubic meters of gas, excluding the already contracted volumes under the firm schedule (for November, December and part of January), which are stored with traders. “They themselves decide where to store, and they will supply us according to the bid, which is quite flexible. But we continue to hold tenders for deliveries in January and February,” Moldovagaz head said. // 15.11.2024 - InfoMarket.
