Moldova’s parliament voted on December 13 to impose a 60-day national state of emergency starting on December 16, in response to a looming cut-off of Russian gas supplies. This move is aimed at securing energy supplies for Moldova, especially for the breakaway Transnistria region, which relies heavily on Russian gas. The decision follows Prime Minister Dorin Recean’s warning that Moscow’s actions are part of an effort to destabilize Moldova, accusing Russia of using energy supplies as a tool of “blackmail.”
Moldova has been dependent on Russian gas transported through Ukraine, but the contract between Ukraine and Russian gas company Gazprom expires on December 31. The situation is further complicated by Moldova’s agreement with Transnistria, which since 2022 receives all of Moldova’s Russian gas supplies. Transnistria hosts a power plant that is crucial to both its economy and the energy grid in the rest of Moldova.
The state of emergency allows the government to take swift action, including limiting energy exports, to mitigate a potential crisis. Moldova has suggested an alternative route for gas supplies via the TurkStream pipeline, which runs through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. However, this plan is uncertain due to Gazprom’s demands for Moldova to settle a debt of $709 million for past gas supplies. Additionally, Bulgaria has warned it may halt gas transit unless Gazprom resolves payment issues linked to US sanctions on Gazprombank.
This energy crisis highlights Moldova’s vulnerabilities and its strategic challenges as it faces external pressure from Russia, compounded by the broader geopolitical context involving Ukraine and Western sanctions.
