Moldovan officials confirm a shift back to regional energy sourcing, signaling renewed imports from the Moldavskaya GRES plant, which is owned by the Russian company Inter RAO. The decision to resume purchases was announced as December approached, with the government aiming to secure steady electricity supplies for the country’s consumers. According to statements reported by TASS, the deputy prime minister highlighted the scope of the upcoming delivery, noting that a substantial allocation would be arranged to meet demand on the right bank of the Dniester River. The plan emphasizes a combination of intergovernmental arrangements and bilateral contracts with neighboring suppliers to ensure stable energy access for households and businesses. 204,000 MW of electricity is expected to be supplied in December, a figure designed to cover typical winter consumption and offset seasonal fluctuations. This plan is complemented by existing bilateral arrangements with Romanian suppliers, which together are expected to form a reliable backbone for Moldova’s electricity needs. The move marks a return to a diversified energy portfolio after periods of dependence on several cross-border sources, and it reflects ongoing efforts to balance security of supply with economic considerations for residents.
In another development, Moldova’s state electricity company Energocom announced a notable milestone in its procurement strategy by conducting a test purchase of 4.3 million cubic meters of natural gas via the Trans-Balkan pipeline. This marks the first time Energocom has drawn gas through this route, which connects to a broader regional energy corridor. Previously used to supply gas to the Balkans from sources further east, the Trans-Balkan pipeline traverses Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, underscoring Moldova’s interest in leveraging multiple transit routes to diversify energy risk and enhance bargaining power with suppliers.
Industry sources note that the energy landscape in the region remains subject to geopolitical shifts and maintenance of cross-border energy flows. In late November, the press service of Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas company, suggested the possibility of reduced gas deliveries to Moldova in the near term, citing the fuel settlement processes occurring within Ukraine. The statement points to the sensitivity of supply security in the region as traders and governments adjust to evolving logistical and regulatory realities.
Earlier, Moldovan officials had indicated progress in reducing reliance on Russian gas. At the start of the previous month, the Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development reported that October 2022 consumption from Russia had fallen by 57 percent compared with October 2021. This development reflects a concerted effort to diversify fuel sources and improve energy resilience for Moldova, particularly in the context of cross-border energy transit and regional market dynamics.