Moldovan energy minister pays visit to Kyiv

The Moldovan authorities are interested in the possibility of supplying electricity from Ukraine, in the context of the cold season. The topic was discussed by Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu, at an official visit to Kyiv to strengthen energy cooperation with Ukraine.

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu held high-level bilateral meetings with counterparts and energy officials from Ukraine. The Moldovan delegation  included the director of the state enterprise Moldelectrica, Sergiu Aparatu, the interim general director of Energocom, Eugeniu Buzatu and Ambassador of  Moldova to Ukraine Valeriu Chiveri.

During discussions with Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk, the sides addressed key topics regarding energy supply security, preparation for the 2025-2026 cold season, export and import of electricity, expanding gas storage cooperation, as well as enhancing gas imports through the Vertical Corridor, and emergency intervention mechanisms for the repair of the critical infrastructure.

‘’We are grateful to Ukraine for close collaboration in the energy sector. In the context of the cold season, we are interested in the possibility of supplying electricity from Ukraine. Our joint effort is clearly reflected in the perspective of integrating the electricity markets of Moldova and Ukraine into the European Union's energy market,’’ said Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu.

Ministers also discussed decarbonization of the energy sector, development of renewable sources and the use of new nuclear technologies. There sides also exchanged updated information on the progress of the European integration processes of the two states. Moldova and Ukraine successfully passed the screening sessions with the European Commission in last July, and they are currently awaiting reports and recommendations for the next steps.

‘’I am convinced that the cooperation between our countries in the energy field will stay strong and durable; we have common goals, common values, and we step together toward a common goal – to become full-fledged members of the European community,’’ emphasized Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk.

Also, during the visit to Kyiv, Minister Junghietu met the management of the NPC Ukrenergo Company. The discussions focused on the prospects of enhancing the  interconnection capacity at the Moldova-Ukraine border, updating the cooperation agreement between national system operators, as well as the possibility of supplying electricity from Ukraine.

Chairman of the Board of NPC Ukrenergo Vitalii Zaichenko emphasized that Ukrenergo was the leader of the joint control block Ukraine–Moldova and was responsible for ensuring its balanced operation within the European energy system. He said that the institution constantly strives to support Moldova with the necessary energy, within the available technical capacities and the situation emerged following Russian attacks.

The sides also discussed essential aspects of the bilateral cooperation agenda, such as the construction and rehabilitation of high-voltage cross-border lines, organizing joint auctions for the allocation of transfer capacities and the gradual integration of Moldova’s and Ukraine's electricity markets into the European Union's energy market. At the same time, the participants in the meeting exchanged experience on the integration into the continental ENTSO-E network, where Moldelectrica currently holds observer status.