October 27 (SeeNews) - Moldova bought 1 million cubic metres of natural gas from Dutch energy and commodity trading company Vitol amid difficulties in striking a new deal with Russia’s Gazprom, its traditional supplier, the country's Public Property Agency, APP, said.
The contract was concluded between Moldovan natural gas supply company Energocom and the Dutch company following a tender, APP said in a press release on Tuesday.
Gas deliveries from Vitol are due to arrive on October 27.
On Tuesday, Poland's PGNiG Group delivered 1 million cubic metres of natural gas to the country.
On Friday, Moldova's parliament introduced a 30-day state of emergency starting October 22 due to a shortage of natural gas supplies and because it has not signed a new contract with Gazprom. During the state of emergency, the government is allowed to buy gas under a simplified procedure, using additional funds.
Moldova's contract with Gazprom expired at the end of September and the government in Chisinau asked for an extension, but did not accept Gazprom's price offer of $790 (684 euro) per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, according to local media reports.
Moldova has no gas deposits of its own and covers all of its gas needs by imports from Russia.
($=0.8592 euro)