The Government of the Republic of Moldova declared a 60-day state of emergency starting on 16 December 2024, citing risks to the energy supply. In response, Romania has pledged its support to help the country navigate this critical period.
At the heart of the energy crisis is the gas-fired Cuciurgan MGRES power plant, located in Transnistria, which generates approximately three-quarters of Moldova’s electricity. With the impending expiration of the gas contract between Moldova and Russia in 2025, the plant faces the risk of supply disruptions and operational challenges.
Therefore, Romania is supporting the country in both electricity and gas delivery within the framework of broader European cooperation. The Ministry of Energy is facilitating dialogue between Moldovan energy company Energocom, partially state-owned Romanian nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica, Romanian state-owned hydroelectric power company Hidroelectrica and energy company OMV, to ensure effective cooperation in meeting energy demands.
“Romania remains a reliable partner for the Republic of Moldova,” said Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. “In the face of these challenges, close cooperation between our governments and energy companies is key to ensuring energy security and citizens’ comfort this winter.”
Nuclearelectrica and Hidroelectrica are collaborating with Energocom to assess Moldova’s electricity supply options, aiming to help the country cover an estimated 600-megawatt (MW) deficit. This will be achieved through coordinated government-level solutions, utilising available resources, and in the medium term, by developing new electricity generation units and modernising the district heating system in Chisinau.
The national transmission system operators of Romania and Moldova, Transelectrica and Moldelectrica, are collaborating to optimise power flows and interconnections between the two countries, as well as developing a mechanism for the commercial allocation of capacity on the four 110 kilovolts (kV) power lines. The transfer capacity (NTC) for imports from Romania is 315 MW but is expected to increase by 80 MW this week to 395 MW.
Regarding the gas supply, increasing the value of the Operational Balancing Account (OBA) between VestMoldTransGaz and Transgaz is considered a key solution to mitigate the initial impact of the crisis. Additionally, Romania is prepared to assess the priority extraction of natural gas from its storage facilities, specifically the Depogaz depots.