Moldova Extends Contract For Russian Gas Through 2015

Moldova has extended its gas-supply contract with Russia's Gazprom for another year.

Moldova will pay Gazprom $331.80 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in 2015 under the contract extension signed in Chisinau on November 11.

The contract was signed in December 2006 and expired in 2011, but has repeatedly been extended.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine, is being courted by both the European Union and Russia.

Moldova signed an Association Agreement strengthening ties with the EU in June.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Chinsinau of rejecting Russian requests for talks on the consequences of the deal for Russian-Moldovan trade.

Moldova, one of the poorest ex-Soviet states, is also seeking energy sources in Europe to reduce its dependence on Gazprom.

It is building a pipeline designed to import gas from Romania.

With reporting by TASS and tert.am