By AFP and Kontur | 2024-12-30

CHISINAU -- Moldova enters the new year looking for more ways to become energy independent, with Russia's Gazprom announcing that it will halt all gas supplies to the country from January 1.

Moldova's prime minister denounced the Gazprom move as "oppressive tactics."

"Gazprom will introduce a restriction on natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova to zero cubic metres per day from 0500 GMT on January 1, 2025," the company said in a statement.

Gazprom alleges the move is tied to a debt, but Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Facebook that the "alleged debt has been invalidated by an international audit," accusing Russia of using "energy as a political weapon."

He said Moldova would continue to diversify its sources of energy supply and will "carefully analyze legal options, including the resort to international arbitration to protect our national interest and to seek compensation."

Moldova relies on the Cuciurgan power plant in Transnistria for 70% of its electricity, which is fuelled by Russian gas arriving via Ukraine.

However, Kyiv has announced its intention not to renew the transit contract, which allows Russian gas to be transported to Europe at the end of December.

In response, the Moldovan government has accused the Russian energy giant Gazprom of refusing to use alternative routes.

The Kremlin is using Gazprom's extortion to undermine the Moldovan government, aiming to benefit pro-Russian parties by weakening the pro-government, pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity before next year's parliamentary elections, say analysts.

"Moscow is seeking to bring Moldova back into its orbit of influence by creating energy dependence," said Ihor Petrenko, founder and director of United Ukraine, a think tank in Kyiv.

"By using gas supplies as a weapon, Russia is not only raising prices or reducing supplies but also creating economic and political instability in the country," Petrenko told Kontur. "This is a classic strategy that the Kremlin employs not only in Moldova but toward other post-Soviet countries that have chosen the path of integration with the EU [European Union]."

Moldova this month introduced a 60-day state of emergency before the expected cut.

Moldova has already made significant steps towards energy independence from the Kremlin.

The completion of the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline in 2021 was a strategic breakthrough, as it allowed Moldova to diversify its gas sources by connecting to Romanian suppliers.

In addition, the work to integrate power grids with Romania continues. Construction of a high-voltage power transmission line is expected to be finished by 2025, which will significantly strengthen Moldovan energy security.

'Right side of history'

Meanwhile, Moldovan President Maia Sandu was sworn in for a second term December 24, praising voters' pro-Europe choice "despite the pressures" after Russia was accused of interfering in last month's election.

"We can be proud that, despite the challenges, we have managed to be on the right side of history," she said while taking her oath of office.

"We have defended democracy in the face of external threats," she added.

"Moldova voted, despite all the pressures, for a clear direction -- a developed, European country bringing greater security and prosperity," the 52-year-old leader said.

The former World Bank economist took 55.33% of the vote in the runoff in early November, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo, whom pro-Russian socialists supported.

Authorities reported numerous "attempts at destabilizing" the election, including disinformation, vote buying, death threats, cyberattacks and the bussing of voters.

Sandu has firmly steered her 2.6 million-strong nation toward Brussels over the past four years, with the EU officially opening accession talks last June.