The Moldovan government has denied allegations that it is purchasing Russian gas through intermediaries and has called the transfer of gas supplies under state management an important step towards the country's energy independence
Government spokesman Daniel Voda stated this, noting that the Ministry of Energy explained in a recently published article that Moldova is entering a new phase in the gas sector: gas supply will be separated from other activities such as transportation and distribution, a process known as unbundling. Until now, Moldovagaz has controlled the entire chain, from supply to transportation and distribution, which has limited competition and blocked reforms. Starting August 1, things are changing: if Moldovagaz doesn't split up its activities by July 31, it'll lose its supply license, and this role will go to the state-owned company Energocom. As Daniel Voda emphasized, Moldovagaz will only remain responsible for distribution, i.e., it will supply gas to local networks, while Energocom will become the main supplier to consumers. The government spokesman noted that Energocom has already purchased 350 million cubic meters of gas for the cold season and more than 830 million cubic meters in total for 2024 from European sources, mainly Romania and other EU countries, at an average price of $444 per 1,000 cubic meters. These purchases are no longer linked to Gazprom. Following the unilateral suspension of supplies to the Transnistrian region, Moldovagaz can no longer purchase gas directly. Energocom now purchases gas on the international exchange with the support of the EU and the EBRD, including through state-guaranteed financing, which allows for advance payments and the creation of reserves. “Claims that Moldova will continue to purchase Russian gas through intermediaries are not true. Today, gas is purchased on the exchange, through transparent mechanisms, at competitive prices,” said Daniel Voda. According to him, a market liberalization calendar will be approved next. Large consumers will be able to freely choose their supplier, and citizens will have access to an online price comparison tool to make informed decisions. “This reform is an important step towards strengthening the country's energy independence and opening the market to real competition for the benefit of the people. More detailed information is available in the Ministry of Energy's article, which explains the unbundling process and its implications for consumers in detail,” the Government Spokesman said. // 21.07.2025 — InfoMarket
