The European Union will provide 30 million euros ($31.5 million) to purchase and transport natural gas to Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Monday.

Moldova and the European Union have worked out an emergency plan to help the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria mired in an energy crisis after the halt of Russian gas flows.

The European Union (EU) announced a EUR 30 million "targeted support to Moldova, including the Transnistrian region," to finance the purchase and transportation of natural gas for the region that is facing an acute energy crisis "provoked by Gazprom.

Moldova's Energy Ministry is conducting an international tender to construct two high-performance thermal power plants in Chisinau with total electrical capacity of around 55 MW and thermal capacity of at least 43 Gcal/h,

The leader of Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region, gripped by power and heating cuts, said on Friday that gas reserves would be exhausted within days and urged the central government to end "artificial delays" and provide new supplies.

Russia summoned Moldova's ambassador to protest accusations against its ambassador in Chisinau by a Moldovan political party. The party has called for Russia's ambassador to be expelled. Moldova's President alleges Russia is engineering an energy crisis to influence political outcomes,

Moldova and its separatist Transdniestria region inched towards a deal on Monday to allow gas to flow to residents of the rebel enclave, who have been suffering from power and heating cuts since the start of the year.

Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region expects to receive Russian gas again soon to meet its needs, its leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said on Wednesday, two weeks into crippling power cuts in the Russian-backed enclave.

The Transdniestria region in Moldova faces a severe energy crisis as its gas reserves dwindle. With Ukraine refusing transit and Moldova awaiting overdue payments, the region's residents suffer from power outages and severe winter hardships.

CHISINAU. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The Transdniestrian region expects to receive 3 million cubic meters of gas from Moldova for urgent needs, Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said at a meeting of the operational headquarters on Monday.

While Moscow and Chisinau blame each other for the situation after the gas cut, many of the affected inhabitants view themselves as casualties of political games.

The document, seen exclusively by Euractiv Czechia, argues the measures will help the two countries "resist the malign influence of Russia".