​The Republic of Moldova can be supplied with Azerbaijani gas, which will pass through Romania, as well as gas from the Black Sea, starting from 29,027, when their development will begin. The Republic of Moldova will also be able to store gas and create emergency reserves on the territory of Romania. In addition, Moldova’s electricity market could be integrated into the EU market through Romania. To this end, Romania and the Republic of Moldova signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday.

In particular, Sebastian Burduža, the Minister of Energy, together with Victor Parlikov, his colleague from the Republic of Moldova, signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova regarding the implementation of projects of interconnection of natural gas and electricity networks.

Azerbaijani and Black Sea gas for the Republic of Moldova

“From the point of view of ensuring the security of the supply route through the south (gas of Azerbaijani origin, gas volumes available at the LNG terminals in Greece/Turkey), with the launch of the interconnector connecting Greece to Bulgaria, we appreciate the new opportunities for the supply of gas to the Republic opens Moldova through the transit of Romania,” the Government’s Memorandum on the Agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova states.

“From the point of view of the hydrocarbon resources of the Black Sea, in the context of the start of gas production from the Neptun Deep block, which is expected in early 2027, they will play an important role at the regional level, so that natural gas from the Black Sea Neagra can be capitalized both on the Romanian market and on the markets of the region, including the market of the Republic of Moldova, through the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline,” the same document states.

How the markets of Romania will be interconnected with the markets of the Republic of Moldova

In the field of natural gas, crude oil and petroleum products, the two countries follow

• increase in two-way transport capacity of natural gas,
• pipeline expansion,
• signing the Agreement on burden sharing and development of natural gas storage capacities in Romania,
• cooperation for the purpose of maintaining the minimum level of crude oil and/or petroleum products reserves,
• signing in 2024 a bilateral agreement, which provides for the identification of warehouses for the creation of emergency stocks of the Republic of Moldova on the territory of Romania.

In the field of electricity, the parties believe

• implementation of the project “Unification of the electricity systems of Romania and the Republic of Moldova through the construction of a strategic investment object of the 400 kV Suceava – Bielce overhead power line and the expansion of the 400 kV Suceava and 400 kV stations. kV Baltska station”,
• construction of a new connection line and power plant on the territory of Romania,
• implementation of interconnection on existing power transmission lines, as well as other power transmission lines established by mutual agreement;
• providing the conditions for the appointment of “OPCOM” SA in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, through the appropriate legal form, as the operator of the electricity market in the Republic of Moldova, including the appointed operator of the electricity market, for the purpose of integrating the electricity market from the Republic of Moldova into the internal electricity supply market of the Union through unification markets; analyzing the possibility of a) taking control of the energy system of the Republic of Moldova in the regulatory unit of CNTEE “Transelectrica”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​front, in the future. ​​​​​​​SA, b) establishment of cross-border trade processes of electricity balancing and system services through the access of ÎS “Moldelectrica” ​​​​to the Balancing Market and the market of system technological services administered by CNTEE “Transelectrica” ​​”SA.