Moldova has approved an action plan for emergency situations in the natural gas sector
The plan and regulation approved by the Government establish clear and predefined measures to ensure natural gas supply, adapted to three levels of crisis: early warning, high alert and emergency. The main indicators for declaring the level of crisis, reporting obligations and actions that can be applied for each level of crisis are given. The document defines the mechanisms of cooperation between gas and heat sector companies, the National Energy Regulatory Agency, the Ministry of Energy and the Commission for Emergency Situations. Depending on the type and severity of the crisis, the institutions involved will activate specific measures aimed at ensuring the continuity of natural gas supplies to our country. The regulation also includes a Natural Gas Emergency Prevention Action Plan reflecting the results of a national risk assessment, as well as modeling of risk scenarios identified by testing the Emergency Action Plan at least once between its periodic updates. All these measures will ensure that responsible authorities and energy sector entities are better prepared for possible emergencies in the natural gas sector in line with EU best practice. The document also includes basic standards for infrastructure and supply security. To maintain stability in the event of an emergency, gas supply will be prioritized to protected consumers, including households, hospitals, kindergartens and other public institutions providing basic social services. As the Department of Energy notes, an important element of the regulation is the prioritized allocation of gas to natural gas-fired power plants - they play a critical role in the grid. The regulation states that the Energy Community Secretariat, through the Security of Supply Coordination Group, will assist Moldova in the event of a crisis and contribute to the continuity of gas flows in the region. In this context, the Secretariat reviewed and assessed the plan for compliance with European norms and recommended adjustments to fully harmonize the document with EU standards. The approved Government Decision was developed with the support of the program “Addressing the impacts of energy crisis and initiating solutions toward energy security and addressing energy poverty” (FPI), funded by UNDP Moldova. // 30.10.2024 - InfoMarket.
