The Inter-ministerial Committee for Strategic Planning today instructed the state company Energocom to buy €200 million worth of gas at market prices.
Half of the sum is a grant from the Norwegian Government, and the other half is a preferential loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said the transactions will take place on the common EU Energy Platform so as to allow as many suppliers as possible to participate. In addition, this will provide flexibility in the pre-qualification phase included in the EBRD loan agreement.
Parlicov said the restocking was needed due to the unpredictable relationship with Russia’s Gazprom.
Last year Moldova spent €300 million euros to find alternatives to Russian gas after Gazprom reduced supplies. Also last year, for the first time ever, Moldova made strategic gas stocks kept in Ukraine and Romania.
