Moldovan energy minister says recent crises pushing country to accelerate reforms, invest more in energy infrastructure

Moldova is firmly continuing the process of modernizing its energy sector and integrating into the European market, despite regional challenges and emerging risks. Recent crises are pushing the country to accelerate reforms, invest more in infrastructure and become more resilient. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu made statements to this effect, at the first meeting this year of the Sectoral Council for external assistance in the energy field, held in Chisinau today.

“I want to make it quite clear: the progress of Moldova in the energy sector will not be stopped. On the contrary, these crises are pushing us to accelerate reforms, to invest more in infrastructure and to become more resilient. We are moving firmly along the path of integration into the European energy market, developing interconnections and building a safer and more competitive system,” said Dorin Junghietu.

The minister noted that, in recent months, the energy sector had gone through serious trials generated by the regional context. The most recent episode was the disconnection of the Isaccea–Vulcanesti power line, which became the target of Russian attacks.

“This incident showed us how vulnerable we can be and how important solidarity and cooperation are. It was a resilience test for our entire interconnected region,” said Dorin Junghietu at the beginning of the meeting.

An important focus of the discussions was the reforms’ agenda, essential for the process of accession to the European Union. According to the Energy Ministry, the energy sector plays a central role in this effort and progress is already visible: 12 reforms have been implemented, contributing to securing 189 million euros in funding from the European Commission under the Reform and Growth Facility.

Developments in the field of renewable energy, where Moldova is recording significant results, were also presented. At the end of 2025, renewable energy covered 24.5 per cent of electricity consumption and the installed capacity exceeded almost 980 MW. In parallel, the authorities are preparing to open bids for a new investment stage, through a tender for 170 MW of wind power plants, which will integrate, for the first time, energy storage solutions.

Another pillar of energy security discussed at the meeting with development partners was the development of storage capacities, essential for system stability. Presently, some of these capacities are already operational, while others are to be commissioned in the immediate future, as a much larger long-term need is emerging for balancing the grid.

At the same time, the main needs of the Energy Ministry for the coming period were highlighted during the meeting. Thus, the need to develop a feasibility study for the Balti–Dnestrovsk power line was underlined, as well as the need to modernize existing networks to align with European ENTSO-E standards.

In the natural gas and petroleum products sectors, priorities include conducting studies on existing storage capacities, inventorying gas networks and assessing the technical condition of infrastructure, with a view to integrating renewable gases and aligning with the requirements of European legislation.

The event brought together representatives of national institutions and development partners, including the Energy Community Secretariat, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, as well as companies from the energy sector. The event provided a common framework for coordinating efforts, aligning strategies and setting development priorities.