Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom says it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting on Jan. 1, citing alleged unpaid debt by the east European country.

Russian energy giant Gazprom said Saturday it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts. It said the company reserved the right to take any action, including terminating the supply contract with Moldova.

Gazprom said Moldovagaz “regularly fails to fulfill its payment obligations under the existing contract, which is a significant breach of its terms.”View on euronews

Russia's energy giant Gazprom claimed the decision was related to Moldova's outstanding debt, not problems with transit via Ukraine.

"Due to the Moldovan side's refusal to settle arrears for gas supplies, Gazprom PJSC has formally notified Moldovagaz of its decision to limit natural gas deliveries to the Republic of Moldova to zero cubic meters per day, effective 8:00 a.m. Moscow time (GMT0500) on January 1, 2025," the company said.

Moldova said on Friday it will curb power exports and introduce measures to reduce consumption by at least a third from Jan. 1, as it prepares for an end to Russian natural gas supplies. The country has been preparing for potential power cuts since Ukraine said it would not extend a gas transit deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom when it expires on Dec.

Moscow, Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting on January 1, citing alleged unpaid debt by the European Union candidate country, which has brought in emergency measures as it braces for power cuts.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts. It said the company reserved the right to take any action,