Tiraspol Refused EU Aid and a 60 Million Euro Grant: Gas to Be Supplied by Hungarian Company

This was announced by Prime Minister Dorin Recean on social media. The prime minister noted that the money from the European grant, provided free of charge since 1 February, had been used in full. “In the medium term, the EU offer of 60 million euros would have been a solution that would have freed the Transnistrian region from blackmail and energy instability. Tiraspol has refused this solution. Russia does not allow them to accept European aid for fear of losing control over the region. The main condition that Tiraspol refused was a gradual increase in tariffs for consumers. Therefore, they cannot receive money from the European aid of 60 million euros. The solution chosen by the Tiraspol regime means that Transnistrian residents will continue to live in a state of unpredictability and anxiety about gas supplies. This decision will not solve the problem in the long term. However, we will not cut off the gas supply and will not let people on the left bank freeze,” Recean wrote. The prime minister also explained how gas will now be supplied to the Transnistrian region: A company from Hungary - MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG - will receive payment from JNX General Trading L.L.C from Dubai and deliver the gas to the border with Moldova. Both companies have been vetted. MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG is a trader of natural gas on the European market. No non-compliance with national and international legislation were identified for JNX General Trading L.L.C. Similarly, no Moldovan citizens were identified behind the companies. MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG will supply gas up to the border with Moldova on the basis of a contract signed with Moldovagaz. Tiraspol will pay in advance the transit costs of gas transported from the border with Moldova to the region on the basis of an agreement between Moldovagaz and Tiraspoltransgaz. “We authorize this transit and Tiraspol will take a series of actions to demonstrate openness: it will release political prisoners, resolve the issue of the lyceum in Ribnita, keep Moldovan public television online, remove the checkpoints set up in 2022 (33, of which 11 are still in operation). It is important: this is not an agreement between the Moldovan government and Russia or other entities, but the government’s authorization for the residents of the Transnistrian region to receive gas and not to freeze,” the prime minister said. These topics will be discussed today at CES. “We have demonstrated that we want and have the ability to help the residents of the left bank. When the Kremlin failed to provide basic living conditions in the region and left people in cold and darkness, we, together with our European friends, managed to bring warmth to people’s homes. We will continue to make rational and responsible decisions to maintain peace and good understanding throughout the country,” Recean concluded.