The European Third Energy Package was transposed to the primary legislation of the Republic of Moldova by the Law on Electric Power, the Law on Natural Gas and the Law on Energy. As regards the implementation, the Government and the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) committed themselves to taking a number of actions to implement these laws by transposing them to the secondary legislation. The commitments are mainly stipulated in the NAER’s regulation program for 2016-2018 and the national plan for implementing the Association Agreement with the EU, IPN reports.
A public debate on the implementation of the Third Energy Package in Moldova was staged by the Institute for European Politics and Reforms and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Moldova in Chisinau on November 20. The Institute’s executive director Iulian Groza said that most of the measures defined in the Third Energy Package are under implementation and will be carried out until 2018.
The measures in the electricity sector include the revision of the market rules on which the volume of power that will be purchased for next year depends, ensuring of transparency of tender contests, separation and certification of the transport system (Moldelecrtrica) and setting of priorities in the interconnection with Romania’s electric power system. The priorities in the natural gas sector include the separation of the transport operator, approval of the natural gas network codes, implementation of rules of protecting vulnerable consumers and of changing suppliers in conditions of competitiveness.
According to Iulian Groza, the Law on Electric Power evolves positively, but attention should be devoted to the methodology of naming the Board of Directors of the NAER as the expert parliamentary commission didn’t ensure the principle of transparency in the process.
Polina Ojog, the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Chisinau, said the Republic of Moldova, through the Association Agreement with the EU, pledged to improve the situation in the fields of electric power, natural gas and energy regulation. The laws are vital for Moldova given Moldova’s energy dependence on the countries of the region.
Tatiana Molcean, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, stated that the implementation of reforms in the energy sector is the most important thing. The relations with the neighboring partners are also important, but the social impact of the commitments is even more important. It is essential for all the decision makers to make sure that the new laws are put into practice.
Calin Negura, programs director at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, said the pillars on which the national energy policies are based refer to the improvement of access to energy sources, functionality of free competition markets and ensuring of the energy sector’s sustainability.
Alexandru Sandulescu, EU high-level adviser on energy at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, noted that the national particularities had to be taken into consideration. For example, in the case of associations of orchardists it is hard to explain the connection between trees and electrical energy to a foreigner. “The pace in Moldova should be accelerated. Particular stages can be omitted, but only on condition that securing mechanisms are provided,” stated Alexandru Sandulescu.
The secondary legislation of the Third Energy Package is to be drafted by mid-2018.
