Moldova: the volume of gas to be stored as reserve stock to increase from 45.6 million cubic meters to 47.1 million cubic meters from October 1, 2024.
This is stipulated by the relevant amendments to the government decision on the creation and maintenance of natural gas reserve stocks, which are proposed by the Energy Ministry in order to ensure the continuity and security of natural gas supplies to Moldova in exceptional situations in the natural gas sector. The document was submitted for public consultations. The Energy Ministry recalled that, according to the Law on Natural Gas, the reserve stocks of gas should be equal to its consumption for at least 10 days, with 1 day of consumption equal to the average daily consumption for the calendar winter period of the previous year. In order to reduce the financial impact of establishing gas reserve stocks equal to the consumption of natural gas for at least 10 days, it has been established that the gas reserve stocks will be gradually built up in accordance with the volumes established by the Government, which correspond to at least 4 days of consumption starting on September 15, 2022, at least 8 days of consumption starting on October 1, 2023, and at least 10 days of consumption starting on October 1, 2024. Thus, the exact volume of natural gas to be built up as reserve stocks starting on October 1, 2024, will be equal to the average daily consumption for the calendar winter period of the previous year. The exact volume of 47.1 million cubic meters, which corresponds to the consumption of natural gas for 10 days of consumption for the previous calendar winter period 01.12.2023-29.02.2024, was established based on the calculations of the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) submitted to the Ministry of Energy. The draft law prepared by the ministry also states that Energocom will be obliged to keep separate records of transactions concluded in connection with the creation and maintenance of gas reserve stocks and inform the government, the Ministry of Energy and ANRE on each concluded transaction, with the submission of relevant documents upon their request. The information on the concluded transactions will include: the volume of natural gas purchased; the purchase price; data on the seller; agreements related to the transportation and storage of natural gas; other relevant data. Pursuant to applicable law, Energocom is responsible for the creation and maintenance of reserve gas reserves and concludes the necessary agreements and contracts for this purpose with gas storage operators, including those from neighboring countries, Energy Community member states and EU member states, as well as with system operators whose networks will transport natural gas for reserve reserves. The costs related to the creation and maintenance of reserve stocks of natural gas are covered by financial contributions paid by suppliers of the retail natural gas market. It is stipulated that natural gas from the reserve stock shall be used fully or partially only on the basis of a decision of the Moldovan Commission for Emergency Situations taken in case of an emergency situation, including in case of declaration of state of emergency. The reserve stocks shall be restored no later than the date of September 15 following the decision on the use of reserve stocks, or no later than another date established by Government Decision. Any operations with reserve stock not related to their utilization or placement on the natural gas market shall be carried out in accordance with the decision of the National Energy Regulatory Agency. // 03.04.2024 – InfoMarket
