Energocom’s team responded to the accusations made by Prime Minister Dorin Recean and former Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov, regarding the lack of action in ensuring the necessary volumes of natural gas for the 2024-2025 cold season. In a press release, the company's representatives described the accusations as unfounded.
"According to the legislation, the working out and implementation of strategic energy policies are the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy. We reject any attempt to shift responsibility for decisions beyond its operational mandate onto the company," reads the statement.
With the end of the state of emergency and the liberalization of the market in 2024, Energocom actively participated in over 130 tender contests on regional platforms, offering competitive prices in line with market quotations, the company's management noted.
"The bids submitted by JSC Energocom complied with best practices and competitive prices. The decision of JSC Moldovagaz not to accept the advantageous bids presented by us is based on erroneous forecasts regarding the evolution of prices. The postponement of decisions to purchase gas, expecting a decrease in prices, is not attributable to JSC Energocom, but results from the projections and strategies developed by the Ministry of Energy," runs the press release.
The team of Energocom expresses its disagreement with the dismissal of director Victor Bînzari. "The staff of JSC Energocom is puzzled and confused about the request for the dismissal of Victor Bînzari. He strengthened, expanded and maintained the team, having the most consistent experience in managing crisis situations. His dismissal would represent a major loss in a period marked by unprecedented challenges in the energy sector”.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean on Friday asked for the dismissal of Victor Parlicov from the post of Minister Energy, Victor Bînzari from the position of Energocom director and Sergiu Tofilat from the post of member of Moldovagaz’s Supervisory Board.
The dismissal of the general manager of Energocom was requested on the grounds that the company did not purchase gas when possible, invoking bureaucratic procedures. In this way, they could not ensure the necessary volumes for the winter period at the most advantageous prices, Dorin Recean argued.
In a press conference held after the signing of the presidential decree on the dismissal from the position of minister, Victor Parlicov said that the main responsibility for the failure to purchase gas at appropriate prices lies with Energocom. In January-April, when the gas prices were the lowest, Energocom sold gas to Moldovagaz. It made partial purchases only in April, but only for the volume of gas that was not enough. In his opinion, Energocom should have bought cheap gas on the market and given it to Moldovagaz at a price politically assumed by decision of the Commission for Emergency Situations. In this way, the gas supplies would have been significantly cheaper.
