Bulgaria ready to assist Moldova with gas supplies amid energy crisis

Bulgaria has expressed its readiness to support Moldova in securing gas supplies as the latter faces a potential energy crisis following Russia's decision to halt gas deliveries.

The announcement came from Bulgaria's Minister of Energy, Vladimir Malinov, in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Minister Malinov confirmed that Bulgaria is in constant communication with Moldova's Energy Minister and is prepared to offer assistance. "We are ready to support Moldova by ensuring access to both liquefied natural gas and through the company 'Bulgargaz' when they request help," Malinov said, highlighting the existing cooperation between the two nations.

An agreement has been signed between the two countries outlining their actions in times of crisis, which Malinov referred to in his statement.

The crisis began when Russian energy giant Gazprom informed Moldova's gas distribution company, Moldovagaz, that it would stop gas deliveries to the country from January 1, 2025. Gazprom cited breaches of the contract by Moldova as the reason for the suspension. In response, Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean accused Russia of applying pressure and warned that Moldova might take legal action.

As a result of Gazprom's decision, Moldova has shifted to importing gas from the European Union. Meanwhile, Russian gas previously directed to Moldova is now being diverted to Transnistria, where it is used to generate electricity for Moldova. However, Moldova will now face the challenge of purchasing electricity from Romania at double the cost. The country is also at risk of power outages due to insufficient capacity in the power transmission lines to handle the increased demand.

By Vugar Khalilov