Moldovagaz stock company risks losing gas supply license

The Joint Stock Company Moldovagaz is required to complete the procedure of separating gas transportation networks by July 31, 2025, much earlier than initially planned. The Board of Directors of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) has amended the Decision 513 from 2024.

The decision was taken today, after an extensive analysis of energy security risks, especially for consumers on the left bank of the Dniester. The energy regulator took into account multiple consultations with the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) and other relevant actors in the sector, reads am ANRE’s press release.

"This decision comes in the context of Moldova's commitments to the European Union through the joint strategy signed on February 4, 2025, concerning the country's energy independence and resilience. Based on this, Moldovan authorities have committed to fully eliminate any form of dependency on natural gas from the Russian Federation and to speed up the country's integration into the European energy market," the ANRE’s declaration said.

ANRE emphasized that, if JSC Moldovagaz does not complete the separation procedure under the conditions stipulated in Article 28 of the Natural Gas Law by July 31, 2025, its license for natural gas supply activities will be withdrawn.

At the same time, ANRE reserves the right to nominate another license holder with the obligation to supply natural gas to consumers at regulated prices. Competitive procedures for selecting these suppliers will begin in the second quarter of 2025.

The ANRE Board of Directors has adopted a strategic decision, in order to amend Decision No. 513/2024 regarding the certification of the transport system operator Vestmoldtransgaz Ltd Company, adjusting the implementation of European requirements to the realities of the natural gas market from Moldova.

Context of the ANRE decision:

In Decision No. 513 from August 23, 2024, ANRE provisionally certified the operator Vestmoldtransgaz Ltd Company, setting strict conditions, including the functional and legal separation of the transport networks of JSC Moldovagaz and Moldovatransgaz Ltd from other activities in the gas sector, till September 30, 2026.

Subsequently, the Russian giant Gazprom unilaterally ceased the natural gas supplies to Moldova.

Consequently, the Ministry of Energy revised some findings from the previously expressed Opinion on the security of natural gas supply to consumers on the left bank of the Dniester River.

Based on these developments and the recommendations of the Energy Community Secretariat, ANRE adjusted the timeframe for achieving the conditions for the separation of network owners (JSC Moldovagaz and Moldovatransgaz Ltd) by July 31, 2025.