The general assembly of OPCOM SA, an operator on Romania’s electricity and natural gas market, voted to establish a subsidiary company in Chisinau for electricity operations. OPEM, short for Energy Market Operator M, will be registered with Moldova’s Public Services Agency with an equity capital of 500,000 lei.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the decision comes following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Moldova and Romania on Monday to advance the interconnection of the two countries’ gas and electricity networks. Among other strategic objectives, the parties agreed to the designation of OPCOM as an operator on the Moldovan electricity market with the role of aiding the integration of Moldova into the EU electricity market.
“Thanks to OPCOM's experience, we will have a functional energy exchange already next year. The coupling of the Moldovan and Romanian markets will occur naturally, which means that the operators on our market will have de facto access to the Romanian energy exchange as well”, declared the Moldovan Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov.
According to the minister, the process will also make it easier to import and export renewable energy.
