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Moldova gets ready for possible Moldovagaz nationalisation

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean bought his government on Monday to start preparing for the possible nationalisation of gas business Moldovagaz, which is 50% owned by Russia's Gazprom.

Gazprom has stated it plans to suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debts.

Speaking at a federal government meeting, Recean told his justice minister to prepare legal changes that would enable the nationalisation.

We should act in strategic sectors. By the method, these centers were likewise eliminated from us as soon as ... And we must return them to state ownership, Recean stated, referring to the ownership structure when the business was set up in 2013.

In addition to Gazprom's stake, pro-Russian enclave Transdniestria holds about 13%. Moldova's federal government owns 35.6%.

Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic metres of gas annually. It is piped by means of neighbouring Ukraine, whose gas transit handle Russia ends on Dec. 31. Kyiv has actually refused to extend the gas transit offer as its war against Russia techniques its 3rd year.

Moldovagaz transports Russian gas to Transdniestria, where it is utilized to create low-cost power that is sold to government-controlled parts of Moldova.

Moldova disputes it is in defaults for previous gas deliveries and implicates Russia of destabilising the nation, which Moscow denies.

Moldova and Transdniestria have actually enforced economic states of emergency, including measures to decrease power usage at peak hours.

Experts stated that parliamentary approval would be needed to allow any nationalisation to go ahead.

(source: Reuters)