Moldova will establish its first-ever emergency reserves of petroleum products equal to either 90 days of average imports or 61 days of domestic consumption
This is provided for in the draft Law on the Security of Petroleum Product Supply, passed by Parliament in the second reading. Specifically, the bill stipulates that emergency reserves shall be established and maintained at a level corresponding to at least the quantity of petroleum products equal to the average daily net imports over 90 days or the average daily domestic consumption of petroleum products over 61 days during the previous calendar year, whichever of these two quantities is greater. The bill regulates the mechanism for establishing, maintaining, managing, and using emergency reserves of petroleum products. Thus, consumers in Moldova will be able to obtain petroleum products even in crisis situations or in the event of major market disruptions. According to the document, emergency petroleum product reserves will be built up by both the Central Stockpiling Entity and petroleum product importers, with obligations divided equally between the two parties. The process of building up reserves will take place gradually, through June 30, 2034, to avoid financial pressure on the state budget and the economic situation. The Ministry of Energy will calculate and set the individual stockpiling obligations of the Central Stockpiling Entity and each importer based on individual data provided monthly by economic operators. The volume of mandatory reserves will be proportional to the volume of petroleum products imported during the previous calendar year. At the same time, 75% of the total volume of emergency reserves will consist of gasoline and diesel fuel. Approximately 60% of the total volume of reserves must be stored in Moldova, but a portion of the reserves may also be stored outside the country based on bilateral agreements with host countries. The bill also provides for the possibility of establishing reserves in non-physical form through contracts that grant the right—but not the obligation—to purchase petroleum products based on predetermined criteria. Meanwhile, physical emergency reserves will be stored at authorized storage facilities, including customs warehouses and free zones. The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) will monitor economic operators’ compliance with storage obligations, and the bill introduces penalties for non-compliance with legal provisions. The activities of the Central Stockpiling Entity will be overseen by the Ministry of Energy. The draft law was developed by the Ministry of Energy and aims to harmonize national legislation with EU standards regarding the security of petroleum product supplies. The law will take effect on the date of its publication in Monitorul Oficial (the Official Journal of Moldova). Subsequently, within 8 months, the government will establish or appoint a Central Stockpiling Entity. In addition, within one month after this law takes effect, ANRE will include a contribution for emergency reserves in the specific markup for the retail sale of standard petroleum products. As noted by the Ministry of Energy, the aim is to establish a system in Moldova under which the state and importing companies will build up reserves of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to be used in emergency situations. This will reduce the country’s vulnerability to external shocks and ensure the continuity of fuel supplies to the economy and the population. To finance the creation of the national system of emergency petroleum product reserves, the law provides for the establishment of a levy intended to build and maintain emergency reserves. The levy will cover the costs of purchasing fuel for the reserves, storage, stock rotation, and financial expenses associated with their management. During the transition period, the indicative levy rate is set at 0.48 lei per liter of gasoline, diesel, or kerosene, and per kilogram of fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas. Thus, the system is based on a fair and proportional principle, under which each market participant contributes to ensuring the security of petroleum product supplies in proportion to the volumes entering the market and being consumed. The full level of strategic reserves must be reached by July 1, 2034. At least half of the emergency reserves of petroleum products must be stored within the territory of Moldova. The remaining reserves may be stored in other countries under bilateral agreements or in other forms permitted by law. The bill also provides for a mechanism for the continuous monitoring of reserves. The Ministry of Energy will maintain a national registry of emergency reserves, and ANRE will monitor economic operators’ compliance with storage obligations. In crisis situations, decisions on the use of reserves will be made within the framework of the national crisis management mechanism so that the state can intervene promptly and in an organized manner to avoid major supply disruptions. // 26.06.2026 – InfoMarket.
