Following the halt of Russian gas deliveries and advancing towards EU membership, Moldova is working at full speed to restructure its energy supply. Dorin Junghietu, the country’s Minister of Energy, appointed this year, provided us with insights into this transformation, outlining the upcoming plans and infrastructure developments.

You are an expert in the gas sector, I assume that your main task is the security of the gas supply in Moldova. What other areas of energy do you intend to focus on during your time as Minister?

Developing the electrical grid by expanding and implementing new interconnections, specifically overhead power lines, is a key priority for ensuring a stable and efficient energy system.

Additionally, local electricity generation projects play a crucial role in diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on external energy imports. Investments in local projects, whether based on solar, wind, or other green energy sources, will contribute to the creation of sustainable energy communities and support local economies.

Looking ahead, Moldova is in the active phase of accession negotiations with the European Union, with a target of joining the EU by 2030. In this context, the Ministry of Energy is committed to ensuring that the Moldovan energy market provides long-term reliability and predictability for investors. Moreover, we have set the ambition of integrating Moldova’s energy market into the EU internal energy market by 2028. This integration will involve aligning national legislation and market conditions with those of the EU, including the establishment of a unified bidding zone.

How is the country ensuring a secure energy supply for this winter? What are your plans to secure the gas supply on time?

For the upcoming winter, Moldova has implemented a comprehensive energy security strategy, which includes key measures such as:

Diversified Gas Procurement: Securing gas through multiple sources, including purchases from Romania via the BRM platform (Romanian Commodities Exchange), as well as from the European Union (including via Romanian infrastructure) and from Ukraine.Strategic Gas Storage: The country has stored significant gas volumes in Romanian and Ukrainian underground storage facilities (UGS) to cover winter demand and mitigate supply risks.Infrastructure Readiness: The Iași – Ungheni – Chișinău interconnector, managed by Vestmoldtransgaz, is fully operational, allowing gas imports from Romania and the EU without relying on Gazprom. The plans involve expanding its capacity.Enhanced Regional Cooperation: Moldova is working closely with Romania, Ukraine and the EU to secure emergency supply agreements and optimise gas transit routes.Financial and Market Mechanisms: The government, alongside Energocom, is ensuring timely gas procurement through structured contracts and participation in regional gas markets, including BRM and EU gas hubs.

Regarding electricity, in the first three months of 2025, Energocom continued to ensure Moldova’s electricity supply through a mix of imports and domestic production, without any disconnection of consumers or power outage. In January and February, the largest share of electricity, approximately 61-62 per cent came from imports, based on bilateral contracts and trading on power exchanges.

Domestic production covered between 37 and 39 per cent of total purchases, mainly from combined heat and power plants in Chisinau and Balti, as well as from renewable sources such as photovoltaic parks and wind power plants. In March, the structure of electricity sources remained similar, with imports making up the majority and local producers continuing to contribute steadily.

How is gas demand expected to change in Moldova in the coming years?

Moldova is actively working on diversifying its energy sources and increasing its reliance on renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydro). This shift could reduce the overall demand for natural gas in the medium to long term, particularly in the power generation sector.

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and a potential increase in the electrification of public transport could lead to a reduced demand for gas in the transport sector, which is traditionally a significant consumer of fossil fuels.

On the other hand, industrial growth and the need for cogeneration (combined heat and power production) could drive up gas demand, particularly in sectors like chemical production, food processing, and other manufacturing industries that rely on gas for heat and power.

As in other countries, seasonal demand fluctuations will continue to impact the gas consumption patterns, with higher demand in winter months for heating. However, the exact future trajectory will depend on how quickly energy efficiency measures and alternative heating solutions (e.g., heat pumps, district heating systems) are adopted.

If Moldova’s electricity demand increases, there may be a growing role for natural gas in combined heat and power plants as part of a flexible energy mix, especially if renewable generation is intermittent.

In the short to medium term, Moldova’s gas demand is likely to remain relatively stable with some fluctuation based on seasonal needs and economic activity. However, over the longer term, as Moldova integrates more renewable energy sources and modernises its energy infrastructure, gas demand might gradually decrease, especially in the energy generation and heating sectors.

Are there any expected developments or changes related to gas infrastructure?

Four major gas pipeline construction projects are planned:

The 11-kilometre Prut River-Ungheni-Todirești project, scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2028, aims to strengthen the transport infrastructure for gas from the west, helping to prevent congestion caused by changes in gas supply routes to Moldova.The 60-kilometre Chișinău City Ring Infrastructure, planned for the period 2025-2028, seeks to strengthen the gas transportation infrastructure around Chișinău, ensuring more reliable and efficient distribution and preventing congestion.The 40-kilometre Cimișlia-Hîncești Branch Pipeline, to be implemented between 2025 and 2028, aims to integrate the southern region with the central part of Moldova, improving the gas supply reliability.The 95-kilometre Ungheni-Bălți-Drochia Pipeline, to be completed between 2026 and 2029, will enhance the northern gas transport corridor and integrate it into the broader regional network, supporting Moldova’s shift toward more diversified and stable gas supplies.

The Ministry of Energy has also developed a draft law proposing to declare the public utility of national interest for natural gas transportation network projects, to ensure clear and efficient regulation for the implementation of the necessary infrastructure.

There have been reports about plans for the nationalisation of Moldovagaz; have there been any advancements in this regard?

As of now, there have been no official updates or confirmed advancements regarding the nationalisation of Moldovagaz. Discussions regarding the future of the company are ongoing, particularly in light of its strategic importance for national energy security and its complex ownership structure.

According to IEA’s 2022 report, the largest domestic energy source in Moldova is biofuels and waste – what are the strategy and future plans related to this segment?

In November 2024, the Government approved the Regulation on Solid Biofuels. This document establishes a comprehensive set of European standards that producers must comply with, providing market surveillance authorities with a clear regulatory and monitoring framework. The new Regulation is expected to enhance biofuel quality, increase consumer confidence, support market development, and encourage investment in the sector. 

According to the National Centre for Sustainable Energy (CNED), Moldova currently has 42 active solid biofuel producers, and over 300 public institutions rely on biomass for heating.

Sustainably managed forests and other types of forest vegetation (such as production shelterbelts, green spaces and energy plantations) provide significant wood resources for energy without causing environmental harm. On average, 615,000 cubic meters of wood biomass are harvested annually, with firewood accounting for approximately 560,000 cubic meters or 91 per cent of the total.

Currently, Moldova harvests 42 per cent of the forests’ annual growth capacity (approximately 1,450,000 cubic meters), while the European average for sustainable forest management is 65 per cent. Aligning with this standard would allow Moldova to sustainably harvest an additional 325,000 cubic meters per year, provided strict monitoring and traceability measures are enforced across all forest ownership structures.

The expansion of the country’s forested areas through the National Program for Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation will further support solid biofuel production. Between 2023 and 2032, the program aims to plant 110,000 hectares of new forests and rehabilitate 35,000 hectares of degraded and low-quality forests. These new forests are expected to increase the country’s wood production capacity by approximately 420,000 cubic meters per year, with an estimated sustainable harvest of 270,000 cubic meters annually.

A significant portion of the harvested wood biomass is used as firewood for essential household needs, particularly in rural areas, where approximately 60% of the population relies on wood as their primary source of heating and cooking fuel. However, most of this firewood is burned in inefficient traditional stoves, which consume large amounts of wood and generate high levels of pollution. Addressing this issue requires the introduction of high-efficiency heating systems.

The Ministry promotes the electrification of heating systems by gradually replacing gas boilers and inefficient biomass stoves with heat pumps. However, the use of biomass thermal power plants is encouraged, given the significant potential of biomass in the country.

How does the country intend to develop renewable energy sources?

According to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2025-2030, the objectives include reaching a 27 per cent share of renewable energy in total consumption and 30 per cent in the electricity mix by 2030.

Compared to the end of 2024, renewable and storage capacities will increase significantly by 2030. The capacity of battery storage systems will rise to 75 megawatts (MW), biogas installations will grow from 7 MW to 10 MW, the capacity of wind farms will increase from 161 MW to 390 MW, and solar farms (PV) will expand from 395 MW to 560 MW, while the hydroelectric capacity will remain unchanged at 16.2 MW. As a result, the total capacity will increase from the current 579 MW to 1,046 MW.

Several support mechanisms exist for renewable energy producers. In addition to net billing for non-commercial and fixed tariffs for commercial purposes, the Ministry of Energy intends to launch new rounds of auctions in 2025, aiming to increase renewable energy generation capacity and integrate energy storage systems.

The support mechanism within this auction guarantees a fixed price for the electricity produced over 15 years, with the price determined through the auction procedure and not exceeding the ceiling set by the National Energy Regulatory Agency, which is 1.50 lei (0,077 euros)/kilowatt-hour (kWh) for wind energy and 1.67 lei (0,086 euros)/kWh for photovoltaic energy.

Participation conditions specify that each offered project must have an installed capacity of at least 1 MW and not exceed the limits established by the auction, which are 60 MW for photovoltaic projects and 105 MW for wind projects.

Additionally, the Ministry of Energy is analysing the technical and financial aspects of integrating energy storage batteries as part of dedicated support measures.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the suspension of USAID support. Is there any program that is affected in Moldova’s energy sector? What are the prospects for these?

The suspension of this support has created some challenges, particularly in ongoing programs that focus on enhancing the regulatory framework and improving the sustainability of energy infrastructure. However, we are currently working on identifying new opportunities to secure funding and technical support through alternative partners, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Energy Community Secretariat (ECS).

The prospects for these new partnerships are promising. Both the EBRD and ECS have shown a strong commitment to assisting Moldova in its energy transition, particularly concerning energy security, infrastructure development, and regulatory alignment with EU standards. Their involvement will likely provide the necessary resources and expertise to ensure the continued development of Moldova’s energy sector despite the challenges presented by the suspension of USAID support.

Regarding the energy sector, USAID-funded projects included the Moldova Energy Security Activity (MESA), which ran from 2022 to 2025 and aimed at strengthening and fortifying the country’s energy sector with a budget of 30.9 million dollars.

Another key project was the construction of the third 400-kilovolt (kV) interconnection line between Moldova and Romania. The estimated cost of the project was around 110 million dollars, to be finalised after the feasibility study. It was part of the 220-million-dollar support package for Moldova’s energy sector, announced in 2023, with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 30, 2024. The project was expected to be completed by 2030.

Additionally, the procurement of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and related equipment included the purchase of a 75 MW BESS, along with internal combustion engines (ICEs) in two phases: 22 MW in phase one and 20 MW in phase two. This 85 million USD investment was also part of the 220-million-dollar support package, with implementation scheduled for completion by September 2026.

Finally, the Moldova SUPER ESCO (MESCO) program for public buildings aimed to increase energy efficiency across the country’s public buildings, with plans for future expansion to the residential and industrial sectors. The project had a funding allocation of 25 million Moldovan lei (about 1.3 million euros) and was set to be implemented between 2024 and 2026.