BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Gas supplies in Europe were stable with the exception of Moldova, where almost all factories were idled on Thursday, a day after Russian gas transit via Ukraine stopped.

Deliveries of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine pipelines stopped on Wednesday, after Kyiv refused to renew a decades-long arrangement that earned billions of dollars for both countries.

Although Russian gas accounted for less than 10 percent of the European Union’s (EU) gas imports in 2023 — down from more than 40 percent before Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 — some of the bloc’s eastern members are still heavily reliant on Russian imports.

“The situation is stable with all member States using a mix of regular winter storage and imports from third countries, which provide stable supplies to their consumers,” said Poland, which has just assumed the EU’s rotating presidency.

“Significant shifts in import patterns can be observed, but it is clear that there is an abundance of transmission capacities to cover the demand. No significant increase in gas prices was observed,” said a spokesperson.

The situation was concerning, however in Moldova, an ex-Soviet republic sandwiched between Ukraine and EU member Romania.

Almost all factories in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, under de facto control of pro-Russian forces, were idle after Russia cut off gas over a financial dispute with the pro-Western government in Chisinau.

The Polish presidency “called for strengthened support and coordination with the administration in Chisinau.”

“There are no security of supply concerns,” said a statement from the EU Commission.

“Gas supplies have been secured via alternative routes (Germany, Italy) and through withdrawals from storage.”

Transnistria burns coal

Russia’s Gazprom cut off gas on Wednesday over a financial dispute with the Moldovan government in Chisinau, the same day a major gas transit agreement between Moscow and Kyiv to ship gas across Ukraine came to an end.

“The crisis is so severe that there is no need to list which enterprises have stopped. All industrial enterprises have stopped, except for those engaged in food production,” said Sergei Obolonik, the self-proclaimed republic’s economy minister.

Transnistria, a tiny breakaway state in Moldova that borders Ukraine, relies on Russian gas for heating and power and has now started burning coal at its largest power station to meet its energy needs.

Authorities restricted heating and hot water to thousands of people in the region on Wednesday, while an energy supplier urged residents to “dress warmly,” gather into a single room and seal doors and windows with curtains and blankets.

The thin slither of land has been de facto controlled by pro-Russian forces since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but is internationally recognized as part of Moldova.