CHISINAU, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Moldovan Prime Minister

Dorin Recean ordered his government on Monday to start preparing

for the possible nationalisation of gas company Moldovagaz,

which is 50%-owned by Russia's Gazprom.

Gazprom has said it plans to suspend gas exports to Moldova

from 0500 GMT on Jan. 1 due to unpaid debts.

Speaking at a government meeting, Recean told his justice

minister to prepare legislative changes that would allow the

nationalisation.

"We should act in strategic sectors. By the way, these

facilities were also taken away from us once ... And we should

return them to state ownership," Recean said, referring to the

ownership structure when the company was set up in 2013.

In addition to Gazprom's stake, pro-Russian enclave

Transdniestria holds about 13%. Moldova's government owns 35.6%.

Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic metres of

gas per year. It is piped via neighbouring Ukraine, whose gas

transit deal with Russia expires on Dec. 31. Kyiv has refused to

extend the gas transit deal as its war against Russia approaches

its third year.

Moldovagaz transports Russian gas to Transdniestria, where

it is used to generate cheap power that is sold to

government-controlled parts of Moldova.

Moldova disputes it is in arrears for previous gas shipments

and accuses Russia of destabilising the country, which Moscow

denies.

Moldova and Transdniestria have imposed economic states of

emergency, including measures to reduce power consumption at

peak hours.

Analysts said that parliamentary approval would be required

to allow any nationalisation to go ahead.