Parlicov: We Want to Resolve the Issue Peacefully, rather than Oppose Gazprom

Energy Minister Victor Parlicov hinted that he might go to Gazprom’s office to present the new members appointed to Moldovagaz board of directors. Parlicov explained that although Gazprom had expressed a desire to meet the candidates - Dorin Junghietu (chairman), Vadim Ceban (vice-chairman), Eduard Calancea and Radu Mandraburca - before the vote to approve their candidacies, the company refused an earlier proposed meeting at the gas forum in St Petersburg, bani.md reported. “We want to resolve the issue in a peaceful way, not to confront Gazprom,” Parlicov emphasized, adding that the goal is for the strategic enterprise Moldovagaz to work stably and efficiently. “Our goal is to ensure that Moldovagaz does not plunge into chaos and that the company’s activity does not remain in ruins,” the minister said, pointing out that unblocking the situation is necessary to avoid a possible special administration, which is a last resort. According to the minister, there is a project with external management, but it has not been registered in parliament. “We will try to solve the problem peacefully, rather than fighting with Gazprom. It is not easy to set up an external administration. I believe that in the coming weeks we will find a solution with Gazprom. But if no compromise is reached, we will have to look for other alternatives. There are several issues that we are going to discuss with Gazprom, including the issue of gas supplies from 1 January 2025,” Parlicov specified. On 25 September, a new Moldovagaz board of directors was to be created, but Vadim Ceban remained interim head of the company in the absence of a decision by the supervisory board. This board has six members, four from Gazprom and two from Moldova, and decisions are taken by at least five votes, making it difficult to make a decision. The major share of stock in Moldovagaz is controlled by Gazprom (50%), followed by the Public Property Agency (35.3%) and Tiraspoltransgaz (13.14%). According to financial data, the company recorded a profit of 1.282 billion lei in 2023, compared to a loss of 323 million lei in 2022.