OREANDA-NEWS. Moldova has paid off its debt to Gazprom in the amount of $ 74.2 million, the press service of the Moldovagaz company reported.

"OJSC" Moldovagaz "transferred to PJSC" Gazprom "payment for natural gas consumed in October and the first half of November," the statement says.

Earlier, Gazprom proposed Moldova a later time to repay its debt - no later than November 26. The country's parliament accepted on November 25 some amendments to the project on the state budget for 2021 to issue a state loan costing $ 74.2 million to pay off the debt to Gazprom for gas supplied to the country in two previous months - in October and November.

According to the new contract, the next term for Moldavia to pay for Russian gas is November 22. It has to pay $ 74.2 million, but the money was not credited to Gazprom's account in time. After November 24, it was warned to suspend the supply of gas to Moldova from Russia.

Moldova in October 2021 made an agreement with Gazprom on new gas supplies. According to the agreement Moldova has to repay its debt gradually, including penalties, starting in 2022 after a debt audit. According to Gazprom, Moldova owes $ 709 million.

The Moldovan Cabinet of Ministers has urgently approved the transfer of money to Moldovagaz to pay off the debt to Gazprom in the amount of $ 75 million, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa said. This is a loan from the budget.

Earlier, Gazprom gave Moldova a deferral to repay the debt - no later than November 26. On November 25, the Moldovan parliament approved amendments to the law on the state budget for 2021 to issue a state loan to pay off the debt to Gazprom for gas received in October and November. The payment in the amount of $ 75 million will soon go to Gazprom's accounts.