Transnistria - a breakaway region of Moldova - is likely to receive Russian gas via Turkey from February 1 and part of the TurkStream gas pipeline will be reserved for this purpose, Russia's Kommersant reported.
The bulletin said that on January 20, Cyprus' Ozbor Enterprises registered a capacity of about 3.1 million m3/day via the TurkStream gas pipeline to the Strandzha-2 crossing at the Turkey- Bulgaria border. This data is taken from the RBP exchange.
The gas transportation of 3.1 million m3/day will remain the same for 1 month, starting from February 1. In fact, this amount of gas is equivalent to the amount of gas Transnistria needs to meet basic demand.
Sources also revealed that there are many options to supply Russian gas to the breakaway region of Transnistria that are being considered by authorities. The option of gas supply through Turkey is being prioritized.
If the supply of Russian gas to Transnistria is implemented under this scenario, the estimated cost of gas supply is about 160 million USD/month.
On January 1, 2025, due to the expiration of the transit contract, Russia's Gazprom stopped supplying gas via Ukraine to Moldova because the country's state-owned Moldovagaz had not yet paid its debts. Gazprom estimated the debt at $709 million but Moldova did not recognize it.
Due to the shortage of Russian gas, in Transnistria, central heating systems and hot water supply for residential buildings have been cut off. Power outages occurred widely and most industrial companies in this isolated area had to close.
Transnistria's leaders said that the region's gas reserves are enough to be consumed economically by the end of January. Last week, Transnistria leader Vadim Krasnoselsky traveled to Moscow to negotiate gas supplies. He said that gas supplies will soon be reconnected within the framework of humanitarian aid activities.
Turkeyye Today notes that the TurkStream pipeline and the Trans Balkan section are emerging as the main gas supply routes to Transnistria. However, Moldova has raised concerns about the legality of the new deal, stressing that only Moldovagaz is allowed to supply gas to Transnistria.
moldovan President Maia Sandu said his government is analyzing potential sanctions risks for using intermediaries to supply gas to Transnistria.
Ozbor Enterprises - the company that supplies gas to Transnistria this time - operates in the European gas market and has relationships with former Gazprom executives, further complicating the geopolitical dynamics of the deal.
The amount of gas supplied to Transnistria is described as for humanitarian reasons, with minimum supply to meet basic consumer demand. Previously, more gas was supplied to the breakaway region of Transnistria for the purpose of electricity production for Moldova. Energy experts note that the gas supply agreement will start from January 1 and does not include gas for this purpose.
Despite the ongoing disputes and political tensions, the resumption of gas supply through TurkStream reflects Turkey's complex dependence on energy in Eastern Europe and its strategic role as a transit hub.
