The decision by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) to suspend Norgaz Furnizare’s license for the supply of natural gas is illegal and will be challenged in court. Vestmoldtransgaz’ actions that led to this suspension will also be disputed, Alexandr Grosu, director of Nordgaz Furnizare, stated in a press briefing.

According to him, the text of ANRE’s decision shows that the examination of the issue regarding the suspension of the license was initiated based on an informative note from Vestmoldtransgaz. However, according to the provisions of the Administrative Code, ANRE was obliged to inform Nordgaz Furnizare about the receipt of this informative note and to enable it to get acquainted with its content before the meeting.

Also, ANRE did not have the right to make such a decision and should have gone to court, which could have been more objective.

Regarding the violation of which Nordgaz Furnizare was accused, Alexandr Grosu said that Vestmoldtransgaz’ inaction led to the formation of an imbalance in the natural gas transmission system of the Republic of Moldova.

Although Vestmoldtransgaz is entirely to blame for this imbalance, Nordgaz Furnizare is ready to cover the financial losses and pay for the imbalance. The size of the “damage” caused due to insufficient supply by Nordgaz Furnizare of 19 cubic meters of natural gas was less than 300 lei.

Alexandr Grosu argued that, according to the law on natural gas, the creation of an imbalance or its non-payment, including the nonregistration of operators on the wholesale market, do not represent legal grounds for suspending the license for the supply of natural gas.

In this connection, Nordgaz Furnizare considers that all its actions were in strict compliance with the national legal and regulatory requirements and now Vestmoldtrangaz and ANRE intentionally block its work.

The National Agency for Energy Regulation suspended Nordgaz Furnizare’s license for a period of three months.