ISTANBUL 

Moldova on Wednesday signed a loan deal with its breakaway Transnistria region to supply 3 million cubic meters of gas amid an energy crisis stemming from Ukraine’s decision not to renew a deal on the transit of Russian gas to Europe earlier this month.

A statement by gas operator Moldovagaz said the loan agreement signed with Tiraspoltransgaz, the breakaway region’s gas supplier, will support the “functionality of the gas system on the left bank of the Dniester.”

The 3 million cubic meters of gas will be provided to Transnistria by March 1, 2025.

Earlier, the EU announced that it proposed a €30 million emergency assistance package to support Moldova’s efforts in tackling the energy crisis.

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Dec. 28 that it would cut gas supplies to Moldova as of Jan. 1, citing the reason as “due to the refusal of the Moldovan side to settle the debt for gas supplies."

Simultaneously, a five-year deal between Moscow and Kyiv on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expired on Jan. 1 as the latter refused to extend the deal as war between the countries continues.

Transnistria, which has been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since the early 1990s​​​​​​, had been receiving Russian gas through Ukraine.

In mid-December, Moldovan authorities declared a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector.