In Moldova, all large enterprises from January 1, 2025 will purchase natural gas only at negotiated prices - on the free market, and all medium-sized enterprises - from January 1, 2027.
According to State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Constantin Borosan, this is provided for by amendments to the law on natural gas adopted by Parliament at the end of December 2023, which were already published in Monitorul oficial and provide for the gradual complete liberalization of the natural gas market, by analogy with the EU in accordance with Directive 2009/ 73/EC on the general rules for the internal market for natural gas. According to the amendments, until January 1, 2025, large enterprises that are not subject to the Law on Small and Medium Enterprises have the right to require the signing of contracts for the supply of natural gas on regulated terms with suppliers who ensure the supply of natural gas to certain categories of end consumers in the context of the obligation to provision of a public service. At the same time, until January 1, 2027, medium-sized enterprises, defined in the Law on Small and Medium Enterprises, have the right to require the signing of contracts for the supply of natural gas on regulated terms with suppliers who ensure the supply of natural gas to certain categories of end consumers in the context of the obligation for the provision of public services. Constantin Borosan noted that in general, the amendments to the Natural Gas Law adopted by Parliament were another important step towards the energy integration of Moldova and the EU. One of the most important changes to the Natural Gas Law provides that, starting from November 1, 2024, and on November 1 of each year thereafter, Moldova will create natural gas reserves in the amount of 15% of average annual consumption, similar to what the European Union does. This means that in the event of emergencies in the gas sector, Moldova will be more protected. In addition, all cross-border connection points for the transportation of natural gas will be bidirectional - the transport operator is obliged to make investments to ensure physical reversal on gas pipelines that connect our country with Romania and Ukraine. The EU implemented this in accordance with Regulation 2017/1938 on measures to ensure the security of gas supplies. This means that natural gas can be supplied to Moldova from any direction and source. Also, amendments to the Natural Gas Law provide for the protection of natural gas consumers in the event of loss of a supplier - in this case, the consumer will be guaranteed gas supply for a period of no more than 4 months from the supplier in case of emergency. After the 4-month period, the consumer will be able to decide to continue working with the supplier as a last resort. Given the unpredictability of supplies in extreme cases, the price of these supplies will include the risks associated with immediate intervention. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy also explained that rapid intervention is stipulated to protect consumers in the event of the loss of a supplier, and for this purpose, NAER will store a database of consumers and send it to the supplier in extreme cases, appointed to supply gas to consumers left without a supplier. Suppliers to provide universal services and in extreme cases will be appointed on a competitive basis. Natural gas, as part of public service obligations, will be supplied by suppliers who can prove their ability to supply natural gas. Discipline and responsibility are also being introduced in the retail natural gas market and the consumer is guaranteed a free choice of supplier at negotiated prices. Consumers can have multiple contracts with suppliers in a free market at the same time. However, it is not possible to conclude several contracts simultaneously for the same place of consumption if one of the contracts is concluded with a supplier who has obligations to provide public services. Thus, the risks associated with this are not transferred to the shoulders of residential and protected consumers. Constantin Borosan clarified that in terms of the share component when accumulating tariff deviations, the mechanism for paying for financial deviations by consumers was revised. Thus, in the event of tariff deviations, end consumers who change suppliers will no longer have to pay tariff deviations. The variance will be paid or recovered by suppliers in proportion to their market share. The mechanism is applied only if deviations exceed 5% of the regulated annual income. NAER, in accordance with the Tariff Methodology, adjusts prices when the amount of tariff deviations exceeds 1%. It is also stipulated that natural gas suppliers wishing to enter the retail market will have to prove that they have the ability to supply natural gas and have entered into an agreement to purchase natural gas on the wholesale market or are registered on the energy exchange in the country of EU or Energy Community. Offers for natural gas supplies will be valid throughout our country where there are licensed system operators. Proposals for gas supplies cannot be discriminatory in relation to end consumers depending on the administrative-territorial unit in which natural gas is consumed. To obtain a license for the supply of natural gas, companies must demonstrate the presence of capital in the amount of at least 1 million lei during the entire period of validity of the license. Before issuing a license for natural gas supply activities, NAER will request permission from the Information and Security Service and the Service for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering. They must give positive conclusions in terms of risks associated with state security, money laundering and terrorist financing. This requirement also applies to all existing license holders. The amendments stipulate the successful completion of certification of the independence of the transport and system operator (unbundling) in the field of natural gas by ensuring management of the entire transport infrastructure in our country.// 04.01.2024 — InfoMarket
