Moldova pays January gas advance to Russia's Gazprom

Moldova's Moldovagaz energy firm said on Thursday it had paid its January gas advance to Gazprom, a day after the government said the Russian group had rejected its request to reschedule the payment.

That had left the small ex-Soviet republic needing to find $63 million to meet the cost of supply.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said late on Wednesday Moldova would pay the advance on time.