Strategic shift: Moldova decouples from Gazprom by 2026
Moldova’s Energy Minister, Dorin Junghietu, has ruled out returning to a long-term supply contract with Gazprom. Speaking on the "Rezoomat" program, Junghietu emphasized that the nation will instead accelerate its integration into the European energy market to ensure national security.
The Minister cited Gazprom’s unilateral decision to disrupt supplies in the past as a primary reason for this decoupling. He noted that multiple European energy firms have already launched legal action against the Russian state-controlled entity for similar contractual failures.
Reliability and market alternatives
The current agreement is set to expire at the end of 2025 without renegotiation plans. Junghietu stated that returning to Russian gas is "unjustified" given the current geopolitical climate and Gazprom’s unreliability as a partner.
"Even during peak crises, Moldova successfully secured gas through international hubs," Junghietu remarked. The government is now focusing on a diversified portfolio of medium and long-term contracts to eliminate dependence on a single source.
Tensions in the Transnistrian region
Energy security remains complex in the breakaway Transnistrian region. The Minister described the current procurement model for the territory as "unsustainable" due to recent payment delays.
These financial disruptions have forced the Cuciurgan power plant (MGRES) to partially switch from gas to coal. While MoldovaGaz remains the designated supplier for the region until June 2026, Chisinau is drafting legislation to mandate a 15% strategic gas reserve for the territory to mitigate future supply shocks.
Strategic reserves secured
Moldova currently maintains 50 million cubic meters of strategic gas reserves stored in neighboring countries. Approximately 22.7 million cubic meters are held in Ukrainian facilities, with the remaining 27.3 million cubic meters stored in Romania.
Minister Junghietu reassured the public that these volumes are secure. While storage in Ukraine currently offers better economic terms, the Ministry continues to balance cost-efficiency with geopolitical risk management to ensure a stable winter supply.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
