Starting with 2024, every year by November 1, Moldova will build up natural gas supplies in the proportion of 15% of the average annual consumption. The Ministry of Energy said that this is a practice at European Union level and its implementation will ensure the country is more protected in case of exceptional situations in the natural gas sector, IPN reports.

All cross-border interconnection points for the transportation of natural gas will be bidirectional. The transmission system operator is obliged to make investments to ensure the physical reverse on the gas pipelines that interconnect Moldova with Romania and Ukraine. The EU has done this in accordance with the Regulation concerning measures to safeguard security of gas supply. This means that natural gas can be supplied from any direction and source.

The Ministry of Energy noted that as of January 1, 2025, all large enterprises will purchase natural gas only at negotiated prices – on the free market. As from January 1, 2027, all medium-sized enterprises will purchase natural gas from the free market.

“The protection of natural gas consumers in case of loss of supplier – in this case the consumer will be guaranteed gas supply for a maximum period of four months by the supplier of last resort. After the expiry of the four-month period, the consumer will be able to decide to continue to stay with the supplier of last resort. Given the unpredictability of the supply of last resort, the supply price will include the risks associated with prompt intervention,” reads a press release.

The institution also said that the mechanism for paying for financial deviations by consumers was reviewed. Where there are tariff deviations, final customers who switch the supplier will no longer have to pay for their deviation. The deviation will be paid by suppliers in proportion to their market share. The mechanism is applied only when deviations exceed 5% of the regulated annual income.