Moldova prepares for possible Moldovagaz nationalisation, half-owned by Gazprom
CHISINAU – Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean ordered his government on Monday to start preparing for the possible nationalisation of gas company Moldovagaz, which is 50%-owned by Russia’s Gazprom GAZP.MM.
Speaking at a government meeting, Recean told his justice minister to prepare legislative changes that would allow the nationalisation.
In this regard, analysts said that parliamentary approval would be required to allow any nationalisation to go ahead.
Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It is piped via neighbouring Ukraine, whose gas transit deal with Russia expires on Dec. 31. Kyiv has refused to extend the gas transit deal amid the ongoing conflict.
On Saturday, the Russian energy giant Gazprom GAZP.MM said it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts.
