Energy minister says Moldova enters new age on gas market

Chisinau, 14 May /MOLDPRES/ - If during 30 years we have been getting used to a single provider of natural gas, which was able to dictate political conditions when we talked about energy, now, we enter a new age on the gas market. Energy Minister Victor Parlicov has made statements to this effect in an interview given exclusively with MOLDPRES.       

The official also said that, in November 2022, Russia organized a ‘’quite tough stress test’’ for the Moldovan energy system. ‘’Gazprom unilaterally cut the deliveries of natural gas and the Kuchurgan power station, checked by Russia, refused to deliver electric energy. At that time, we had to choose whether to consume the volumes of gas on the right bank of Dniester, to share them with the left bank or transmit them to the Transnistrian region. At that time, we gave up the Russian gas and purchased gas on the European market and what’s new, even from the United States, at lower prices than Gazprom was providing. Meanwhile, we saved about 60 million dollars against the price from Gazprom,’’ the official noted.      

According to the minister, the decision to buy gas from other providers has economic, as well as security reasons. ‘’While so far, we have depended on a single provider, which was dictating the rules and the prices could be accompanied by political conditions, now, this provider can come to our market, if it wants, along with many others and to prove that it is competitive,’’ Victor Parlicov said.   

The minister also said that ‘’following the overcoming of the energy crisis, triggered by Russia, Moldova proved its resilience in the energy field and diversified the sources of supply with energy resources, with the essential support of our western partners, both political and financial, and not in the least, with expertise.’’   

Touching upon the role of the Moldovagaz company in the context of the changes on the energy market, Victor Parlicov said that ‘’more European gas providers register in Moldova and the Moldovagaz stock company, in its capacity of public service provider, can purchase gas from anyone of them.’’ ‘’Such a tender has been already held in last April, in order to buy the quantities needed for May,’’ the minister added.