Moldova cuts gas consumption by a third in Sept

CHISINAU. Oct 8 (Interfax) - Moldova's consumption of natural gas stood at 17.8 million cubic meters in September, down 32.2% year on year, JSC Moldovagaz acting chief Vadim Ceban said on Telegram.

Consumption increased 3.8 million cubic meters or 27.5% compared to August.

"According to Moldovagaz's information, as of September 30, 2024, payments for consumed natural gas were 99.2% on target and stand at 6.513 billion lei or $372 million, 33.7% lower than the figure for the same period last year. This is related to a significant cut in rates for consumers," Ceban said.

The rate for gas consumption in Moldova has been cut twice in 2024, on February 23 and May 2. The rate for end consumers has thus fallen approximately by a third, from 18.07 to 13.12 lei or from $1.03 to $0.77 per cubic meter including VAT.

Moldova on average consumes 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year, excluding Transdniestria, which consumes around twice as much.

Russia's Gazprom has been supplying Moldova with 5.7 mcm of gas per day or less than 40% of the volume needed during the cold months of the year since October 2022. All the gas supplied by Gazprom has since December 4, 2022 gone to Transdniestria, which supplies 80% of Moldova's electricity in return. The contract with the Moldavskaya GRES or MGRES power plant in Transdniestria is valid until the end of 2024.

Right-bank Moldova has purchased gas on the European market since December 2022.

The Moldovan government has looked at several options for supplying gas to Transniestria in the event of a halt to Russian gas transit via Ukraine. Various scenarios are envisaged by a plan of preparations for the 2024-2025 heating season which was approved at a government meeting on October 2.