October 14 (SeeNews) - Moldova will introduce a state of alert in the energy sector as of October 14 due to a shortage of natural gas supplies and because it has not signed a new contract with Russia's Gazprom, the government said on Wednesday.
Moldova wishes to negotiate gas supplies from Romania and Ukraine, and hopes to sign a new contract with Gazprom by the end of this month, deputy prime minister Andrei Spinu said during a news conference streamed on the government's social media account on Wednesday evening.
"Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, we have scheduled negotiations with Gazprom. We want to sign a contract for gas deliveries with Gazprom, on good terms for the Moldovan population," Spinu said.
The decision was taken by Moldova’s Commission for Emergency Situations, following consultations with Moldova's biggest energy companies such as Moldovagaz, Termoelectrica Moldelctrica, and Energocom, Spinu added.
Moldova's contract with Gazprom expired at the end of September and the government asked for an extension, but did not accept Gazprom's price offer of $790 (684 euro) per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, local media reported.
Moldova has no gas deposits of its own and covers all of its gas needs by importing the fuel from Russia.