The Northern and Baltic countries stated that the cessation of Russian gas supplies to Moldova from January 1, 2025, is aimed at undermining the country's political and economic stability, according to a statement from the NB8 group, which includes Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, as reported by LRT.
The statement emphasized that Gazprom's decision to halt gas supplies threatens Moldova's stability. On Saturday, the Russian company announced it would stop supplying gas due to Chisinau's debt. Gazprom claims that the Moldovan side has failed to meet its contractual obligations and reserves the right to fully terminate the agreement with Moldovagaz, the country's largest gas operator.
The suspension of gas supplies could have serious consequences for the population. Due to low temperatures, Moldovan residents are forced to switch to wood heating or use electric heaters. Additionally, power outages are expected. Until recently, 70% of the country's electricity came from the Russian-controlled Transnistria, but these supplies have now been cut off. Moldovan authorities assure that electricity will now come from Romania.
The NB8 countries supported the Moldovan government's efforts to ensure energy security. They stated that, along with the European Commission and international partners, they are ready to expand their assistance to Moldova, noting that infrastructure modernization and increased transmission capacity have helped the country reduce its reliance on Russian energy resources.
The statement also emphasizes that supporting Moldova is important not only for the country itself but also for the stability of the entire region. The NB8 countries described Chisinau's energy reforms as a key element of the European strategy to strengthen energy security, especially in light of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the leader of the unrecognized Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, stated that the increased demand for electricity is putting a strain on the transmission networks, which still date back to Soviet times, and they may not be able to withstand the load.
