Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Monday it would halt gas exports to Moldova from 05:00 GMT on January 1 due to unpaid debts from Moldova, Reuters reported.
The company said it reserved the right to take any action, including terminating the supply contract with Moldova.
The suspension of supplies is a harbinger of a complete halt to Russian gas exports through Ukraine and to Europe, from where it continues to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, after the current transit deal with Ukraine expires on December 31, Reuters reported.
Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually via Ukraine. This gas is supplied to the separatist region of Transnistria, which uses it to produce cheap electricity that it sells to the rest of Moldova.
Moldova's population of 2.5 million is bracing for extended power outages after Kiev said it would not extend its transit contract with “Gazprom“.