EEAS says that Moldova has eliminated its dependence on Russian gas and electricity

Deren Derya, head of the EEAS division for the region, stated during the EU–Moldova meeting that the Republic of Moldova has become the first country in the region to completely eliminate dependence on Russian gas and electricity. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said that Chisinau's priorities are deeper integration into European energy markets, accelerating strategic interconnections, and creating a credible emergency stock system for petroleum products.

Deren Derya, head of the EEAS division for Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, stated during the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee meeting that the Republic of Moldova has become the first country in the region to completely eliminate dependence on Russian gas and electricity. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said that Moldova is transitioning from a historically vulnerable and externally dependent energy system to a diversified framework based on the market and aligned with the EU, through diversification of sources, market reforms, and strengthening regional interconnections.

In short

Deren Derya said that Moldova has become the first country in the region to completely eliminate dependence on Russian gas and electricity.

Dorin Junghietu said that Moldova is transforming its energy system from a vulnerable and externally dependent one into a diversified framework based on the market and aligned with the EU.

Chisinau's priorities are deeper integration into European energy markets, accelerating strategic gas and electricity interconnections, and creating a credible emergency stock system for petroleum products.

Moldova has increased from 70 MW of installed renewable capacity in 2020 to 1,024 MW currently, and the final statement of the PAC welcomes surpassing the 1 GW threshold.

The energy minister said that the focus is shifting towards storage, following the inauguration of a 60 MWh industrial system, with the prospect of reaching approximately 400 MWh of storage capacity by the end of the year.

The Republic of Moldova has become the first country in the region to completely eliminate dependence on Russian gas and electricity, stated Deren Derya, head of the EEAS division for the region, during the 17th meeting of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee held in Brussels.

Derya said that energy has been used against the Republic of Moldova as a tool of pressure, hybrid interference, and war. According to her, Moldova's energy dependence has been exploited for decades as a tool of influence, and the cutting of gas supplies from Moscow on January 1, 2025, was not just an economic attack but an attempt to create chaos, undermine trust in democratic governance, and force Chisinau to yield to pressures.

"Moldova has made remarkable progress, progress in strengthening its energy independence, and has become the first country in the region to fully phase out dependency on Russian gas and electricity," said Deren Derya. In Romanian, the EEAS official conveyed that Moldova has made remarkable progress in strengthening energy independence and has become the first country in the region to completely eliminate dependence on Russian gas and electricity.

Derya also mentioned the March attack on the high-voltage interconnection with the EU, which created significant supply difficulties for the Republic of Moldova. The final statement of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee specifies that the attack on March 23 on the Isaccea–Vulcănești line significantly destabilized Moldova's electricity network and increased the vulnerability of households and critical public services.

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said that the Republic of Moldova is transitioning from a historically vulnerable and externally dependent energy system to a diversified framework based on the market and aligned with the EU. He explained that this transformation is already visible through the diversification of supply sources, market reforms, and strengthening regional interconnections.

Junghietu said that, in a short period, Moldova has shifted gas supply on the right bank to purchases from the European market, transferred the responsibility for public service supply to the state company Energocom, and launched the first effective stage of gas market liberalization.

For the upcoming period, the minister indicated three priorities: deeper integration into European energy markets, accelerating strategic gas and electricity interconnections, and creating a credible emergency stock system for petroleum products. He said that emergency stocks represent the next major step in resilience for the fuel market.

The final statement of the Committee welcomes surpassing the 1 GW threshold of installed renewable capacity in the Republic of Moldova, especially through solar and wind energy. Junghietu said that Moldova has increased from 70 MW of installed renewable capacity in 2020 to 1,024 MW currently.

The minister pointed out, however, that renewable production does not always cover peak hours when consumption is high and production is low. For this reason, the focus is shifting towards battery storage systems and balancing capacities.

Junghietu said that a private investor inaugurated the first large industrial storage system of 60 MWh, and a second similar system is expected in the coming weeks. According to the minister, Moldova could reach approximately 400 MWh of storage capacity by the end of the year, compared to an estimated need of 600 MWh for the grid.

Derya also mentioned a second auction for wind energy, with 175 MW and a battery storage component. Junghietu said that this auction was designed as a hybrid one, for wind and storage, as renewable energy is clean but introduces imbalances in the grid if not accompanied by storage solutions.

The energy minister also presented the market liberalization calendar. He said that gas market liberalization began on April 1, 2026, for large and medium industrial consumers with a consumption of over 100,000 m³ per year. The next stage is scheduled for April 1, 2027, for industrial consumers between 10,000 and 100,000 m³ per year. For electricity, he said that liberalization is expected to start on January 1, 2027.

Junghietu linked market liberalization to the need to keep energy affordable for consumers, but also to the necessity of a transparent and predictable framework for investors. He said that investors need to be able to recover their investments, and the electrification of transport, production, and heating must advance together with market reforms and interconnections.

The final statement of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee condemns Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including the attack on the Isaccea–Vulcănești line, which destabilized the electricity network of the Republic of Moldova. The document calls for continued support from the EU and international partners for interconnections, diversification of supply routes, and protection of critical infrastructure.

The document welcomes the government's plans to continue work on three new high-voltage lines and the completion of the Vulcănești–Chisinau line, which would allow the import of over 50% of Moldova's electricity needs directly from Romania. The statement calls for the completion of the Bălți–Suceava interconnection by the end of 2027 and the continuation of work on the Strășeni–Gutinaș line, with the goal of making it operational by 2030.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/eeas-spune-ca-moldova-a-eliminat-dependenta-de-gazul-si-electricitatea-rusesti