Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said that even if the problem of natural gas supplies to Moldova for January was solved, there are no reasons for relaxing. As the gas prices are unpredictable on the international market, the government decided to declare a state of emergency for a 60-day period. The official admitted that they expected Gazprom will have a different attitude as it didn’t go to debts, but to payments made in advance, IPN reports.
The Speaker said the government hoped that Gazprom will be more indulgent towards the Republic of Moldova and will not come with new ultimatums as to an eventual halt in gas supplies. The Russian gas giant’s attitude is a lesson for the Moldovan authorities.
“We up to the last moment expected that Gazprom will treat the situation in which is now the Republic of Moldova with more respect. And we do not speak about debts here. The payment for the gas the Republic of Moldova consumed in December was made. The payments for the first ten days of January were made. Moldovagaz only needed several more days, until the end of January, to make all the transfers. The state of emergency enabled us to solve the problem during several hours. We hoped we will be treated in a friendly manner up to the last moment. It wasn’t meant to be. We learned the lesson,” Igor Grosu stated in a special edition on the public TV channel.
He said the natural gas prices on the international market are very volatile and, as long as the market is unstable and unpredictable, the state of emergency will be kept. Even if it is criticized by the oppositions, the state of emergency enabled to solve the energy problem during several hours. The subsidies for the higher gas rate paid in winter were transferred to Moldovagaz in advance. The situation of last October and of this January showed that there are no reasons for relaxing.
Parliament declared a 60-day state of emergency in Moldova on January 20, by the votes of 58 PAS MPs. During the state of emergency, the Commission for Exceptional Situations can adopt measures to optimize the consumption of gas and other energy resources. The Commission will be able to create fast instruments for collecting payments for the consumed gas from end users and to institute a special regime for purchasing gas faster, if necessary.
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