Moldova has been attempting to cultivate new means of energy diversification for years. Now they are finally beginning to make significant progress in renewing Moldova’s energy infrastructure.
History
In October of 2022, Russia’s state-owned gas corporation, Gazprom, began reducing exports of gas to Moldova by 30%, claiming that it was a consequence of Ukraine refusing to allow large volumes of gas to go through the Sochranivka station, according to the OSW Centre for Eastern Studies.
Then, in December 2022, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu said that the state-owned firm Moldovagaz would purchase 100 million cubic meters of gas from another state-owned enterprise: Energocom. This decision aimed to reduce dependence on Russia, according to CNBC. In conjunction, Moldova also ceased all imports of Russian gas that same month. Although in March 2023, Moldova had changed their tune, deciding to resume business with Gazprom, according to Reuters.
Russian Gas and Transnistria
According to Reuters, in October 2023, Moldova’s Energy Minister Victor Parlicov stated that much of Moldova would no longer purchase gas from the Russian energy giant.
Transnistria, a Russian-backed separatist region within Moldova, continued to receive gas through all of this by way of a piped route through Ukraine. Russia had been sending this gas virtually free of charge. It was only on January 1, 2025, that these imports came to a halt after Ukraine abstained from renewing the deal with Russia, which had made this supply plausible, according to CNN.
While Moldova had refused to purchase Russian gas, it purchased much of its electricity from Transnistria because it houses the Cuciurgan Power Station, the largest of its kind in Moldova. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Moldova relies on Transnistria for around 70-80% of its electricity.
Energy Projects
Moldova’s Ministry of Energy said that in 2024, the country generated 16.7% of electricity through renewable resources.
In the last 10 months, considerable progress has been made in updating Moldova’s energy infrastructure. Renewable mediums of energy are on the rise, and diversification strategies have been fostered; deals have been made, funding has been secured.
In January, when the Trump administration decided to freeze funding for USAID programs, Moldova lost approximately $300 million, which included energy projects, according to Deutsche Welle.
But, in September, the United States approved funding for the Strășeni-Gutinaș transmission line; one of several projects which was supposed to be funded with the aforementioned USAID disbursements. According to the U.S. Embassy in Moldova, it is a “$130 million initiative that will provide opportunities for U.S. businesses, strengthen Moldova’s electric grid, and enhance Moldova’s energy security. When complete, the project will increase Moldova’s energy independence by ensuring a reliable electricity supply from European markets.”
In February 2025, the European Parliament said that it had approved a Reform and Growth facility for Moldova, totaling over $2.1 billion. The facility consists of more than $600 million from grants (more than $445 million of which is non-repayable support), as well as over $1.7 billion in concessional loans.
The EU will distribute funds over the course of two years. In 2025 alone, nearly $290 million will be allocated to help ensure energy security; additionally, almost $70 million will go towards similar efforts in Transnistria, according to the European Commission.
Furthermore, in July 2025, the European Investment Bank said it had granted Moldova a loan of more than $165 million to improve district heating in Chisinau.
The Future
On September 1, 2025, Moldova replaced Moldovagaz as the official gas supplier, instead opting to go with Energocom for a period of three years, according to Cotidianul. For context, Gazprom controls 50% of Modovagaz, according to Reuters.
Moreover, according to Moldova’s Ministry of Energy, a new thermal power plant in Chisinau will supply an electrical capacity of 250 MW, thermal capacity of 180 MW and a thermal energy storage facility with a capacity of 1,200 MWh; construction could be complete by 2030 with funding from the World Bank.
According to Moldova’s Ministry of Energy, in August 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the auction results for a series of wind and solar farms, which would produce 105 MW and 60 MW, respectively. And as of September 2025, solar grids are online, according to PV Magazine.
Moldova may have taken years to distance itself from Russian energy influence, but it is finally paying off, and the country is strengthening its ties with other European nations. Only time will tell if their pursuit to renew Moldova’s energy infrastructure can remain manageable in the next decade.
– Owen Armentrout
Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Business Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr