Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu made this statement, noting that the price of natural gas on European markets has reached 64 euros per MWh today, and this is the clearest sign that the market remains under pressure from geopolitical tensions and intensifying competition for liquefied natural gas. The head of the Ministry of Energy emphasized that in recent days he has seen many questions about the reason for the adjustment of gas tariffs for Moldovan consumers, but the answer is simple: Moldova cannot isolate itself from developments in the European market. Dorin Junghietu pointed out another important fact: it wasn’t just Moldova that was expecting gas prices to fall; but all of Europe had bet on this scenario; however, the conflict in the Middle East thwarted these expectations, and European gas storage facilities are now less full than in previous years, while competition for every available volume has intensified. The Minister of Energy noted that, in this context, voices are once again being heard promising “cheap gas from Russia.” As Dorin Junghietu noted, this promise has no basis whatsoever, since, aside from the moral issue of financing an aggressor state, there is a technical and economic reality: the gas pipeline running through Ukraine was damaged back in 2024, and transportation via the “TurkStream” pipeline entails costs that make this option uncompetitive. “We cannot control the price of gas on international exchanges. However, we can control how the market operates in Moldova,” stated the Minister of Energy. According to him, the ministry has two proposals in this regard. First, it proposes changing the methodology to allow the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) to adjust gas tariffs quarterly—both upward and downward—depending on international price trends. Consumers should feel not only potential price increases but also price decreases more quickly. As Dorin Junghietu noted, the authorities introduced a similar mechanism for petroleum products this spring, and this helped avoid a serious fuel shortage. He cited the reduction of internal costs as the second proposal. The Ministry of Energy's head emphasized that, after the purchase price of gas, the largest part of the tariff structure is distribution. Currently, this amounts to nearly 4 lei per cubic meter, or nearly 30% of the tariff. According to the Minister of Energy, for this reason, “Moldovagaz” was previously asked to optimize the operations of 12 distribution companies, including by reorganizing them into a single company. Dorin Junghietu explained that a more efficient structure means lower administrative costs and, over time, lower service prices for consumers. “During periods of volatility, decisions must ensure both the security of gas supplies and the supplier’s ability to procure the necessary volumes for the winter on time. At the same time, it remains important to reduce all costs that are within our control and can be optimized,” stated the Minister of Energy.