Moldova's gas transportation networks will be managed by Vestmoldtransgaz, a company owned by Transgaz România and the EBRD.
The Moldovan Energy Ministry reported this, noting that Vestmoldtransgaz signed on September 4 a lease contract for Moldova's gas transportation network with its owner Moldovatransgaz, a subsidiary of Moldovagaz. To enter into force, the contract must be approved by the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE). According to the Energy Ministry, the signing of this agreement became possible due to the legislative amendments introduced last year, which allow ANRE to officially start the procedure of unbundling companies in the gas sector, as well as some decisions of the Commission for Emergency Situations, adopted in June and September this year. Thus, Moldova will soon complete the "unbundling" process, i.e. the separation of gas transportation and supply activities. The unbundling of gas production, transportation, distribution and supply companies to avoid monopoly and to ensure access to infrastructure for all stakeholders is part of Energy Package III, Moldova's commitment to the Energy Community. It is envisaged that Vestmoldtransgaz will lease and operate Moldova's gas transportation network for a period of 5 years. It will also take over the current maintenance contracts concluded by Moldovatransgaz, thus ensuring the continuity of operational processes related to the natural gas transportation infrastructure. Vestmoldtransgaz is certified by ANRE as a gas transportation system operator, owning the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline. The shareholders of Vestmoldtransgaz are the Romanian company Transgaz (75%) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (25%). Energy Minister Victor Parlicov welcomed the consensus to sign this contract without imposing an administrative decision on ANRE and thanked all the parties involved, Vestmoldtransgaz and Transgaz, Moldovatransgaz and Moldovagaz, ANRE and the Energy Ministry's team for the success achieved at this stage. He said that, as in the case of synchronization of Moldova's electricity market with the European energy market, household consumers will not feel this change on the gas market. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that this unbundling, which Moldova has been postponing since 2012, is a huge leap in the implementation of the European legislation, as well as in ensuring the liberalization and transparency of the gas market. "Thus, non-discriminatory access to the networks will be ensured for all companies, and in the long term we will increase confidence in the market for European traders and suppliers, while competition in the future may also lead to more favorable prices," Victor Parlicov said. // 05.09.2023 – InfoMarket
