The January outlook for Russian natural gas delivered to Moldova shows a potential rise from $785 to $1,230 per 1,000 cubic meters. This projection emerged on Vadim Cheban’s m.Telegram channel, where he serves as the Chair of the Board of Moldovagaz, the country’s gas distributor. The message underscores how price trajectories can change quickly under the fuel supply contracts and pricing rules that govern interconnection with Gazprom.
Officials explain that the purchase price for natural gas supplied by PJSC Gazprom in January is expected to land near $1,230 per 1,000 cubic meters. The final figure will be confirmed after January 10, based on the formal calculation formula used to determine the purchase price. This timing reflects the way price components are reconciled and published in early January as part of the annual pricing framework.
Ahead of the new year, the head of Moldovagaz’s gas distribution arm cautioned residents that a reduction in gas tariffs was unlikely, noting that tariffs had already risen sevenfold within a year. The warning highlighted the broader affordability pressures felt by households as wholesale costs shifted and the country navigated changing revenue structures in the energy sector.
In mid-December, Andrey Listovsky, the Director General of the Energy Development Fund, weighed in on Moldova’s energy strategy. His remarks followed Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu’s public statements about diminishing Moldova’s reliance on Moscow for gas. Listovsky suggested that the country might access fuel via Romania’s gas transmission network, indicating a potential diversification route and a path toward reducing exposure to a single supplier’s pricing moves.
Towards the end of the month, President Maia Sandu spoke about the need to strengthen Moldova’s economy in the coming year. Her public remarks emphasized raising household incomes and advancing economic development as essential steps to weather the ongoing energy and inflationary pressures, with a focus on resilience and long-term growth rather than short-term fixes.