Moldovan parliament obliges gas supplier from Transnistrian region to create strategic reserves

The entity responsible for supplying natural gas to the Transnistrian region will be required to gradually establish and maintain natural gas reserves. The parliament has adopted, in the second reading, a draft law that introduces this obligation, in order to strengthen the energy security of Moldova.

According to the new provisions, the reserves must cover at least 15 per cent of the average annual natural gas consumption of final consumers from the Transnistrian region, calculated on the basis of data from the last five years. When determining consumption, only the volumes used for the own needs of consumers in the region will be taken into account, excluding the gas used to produce electricity delivered outside the region.

The document stipulates that the reserves will be built up gradually by November 1, according to a schedule approved by the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE).

During the cold season, between November 1 and March 31, the entity responsible for gas supply will report the level of available reserves to the Energy Ministry  and ANRE. At the same time, the law sets rules for the gradual use of the reserves, with the exceeding of monthly limits allowed only in justified cases and with the approval of the competent authorities.

According to the authors, the draft prepared by the Energy Ministry aims to reduce the risks generated by possible crises in the natural gas sector and to ensure the continuity of supply to final consumers on both banks of Dniester.

In the context, the legislature says that ANRE has recently extended until December 31, 2026 the mandate of JSC Moldovagaz as the entity responsible for supplying natural gas to the Transnistrian region, in order to guarantee the continuity of deliveries and strengthen energy security.

For the second reading, MPs also approved an amendment proposed by the chair of the parliament’s commission for economy, budget and finance, Dorian Istratii. It stipulates that, if two or more natural gas distribution system operators belong to the same founder, administrative expenses may be included in the tariff only once, and not separately for each operator.

According to the author of the amendment, this measure will prevent the repeated inclusion of the same administrative costs in regulated tariffs and will avoid these being borne twice by consumers.

The legislative amendments will enter into force on the date of publication in the Official Journal, with some exceptions that will allow reserves to be built up gradually before the 2026–2027 heating season.

Presently, the obligation to establish strategic gas reserves applies to the right bank of Dniester, but the specific features of the natural gas system of the Transnistrian region have required the completion of the legal framework. The authorities emphasize that the new provisions aim to enhance the energy resilience of the entire country and to reduce the impact of any possible interruptions in natural gas supplies.