Moldova Talks With Gazprom as Gas Contract Almost Expires

With its current contract due to expire at the of the month, Moldova's Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister, Andrei Spinu, said talks with Russia had not concluded on a new contract for gas delivery to Moldova, but negotiations would resume on Wednesday.

"I will continue the talks with Gazprom chief Alexei Miller on October 27 in St Petersburg," Spinu told a press briefing on Monday.

According to Spinu, Moldova wants a fair gas price based on a formula similar to those offered to other states with which Gazprom has signed long-term contracts.

He added that one option for Moldova would be annual contracts based on stock market prices, or a more mixed formula.

"The government wants the best price for Moldovans. The government, the parliament and the presidency are working as a team so that our country has natural gas and we can emerge from this crisis with dignity," Spinu said.

Last Saturday, Gazprom spokesperson Sergey Kupriyanov warned that the company expects Moldova to pay a debt of 709 million US dollars and then start negotiations for a new contract, otherwise Russia will cut off the gas supply by December 1.

Spinu said talks would continue on the debt, accumulated since 1994. The minister said he is ready to negotiate on the issue. However, his position also is that an independent gas debt audit is needed before signing any commitment.

Moldova's government has given the state-woned company Energocom a free hand to find alternative supplies and purchase gas on the free market and organise international tenders.

Last Friday, Ukraine offered to supply enough natural gas to Moldova to keep the average pressure in the pipelines, responding to a plea from Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita....