New natural gas tariffs might could be approved in Moldova in late January – early February

The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) might approve the new tariffs for natural gas at the end of January–beginning of February, after completing all the necessary procedures and upon submission of the application by Energocom. The ANRE director Alexei Taran today made statements to this effect, noting that current trends point to a possible decrease in tariffs.

Alexei Taran explained that ANRE was to publish, for approval next week, the basic expenses for Energocom, which is a mandatory stage that must be completed before Energocom can submit its request to adjust the tariffs for natural gas supplied to end consumers.

After the basic costs and investments are approved, Energocom will be able to submit the application for tariff adjustment, and this will most likely happen at the end of January.

“At the moment, ANRE has not received any application for the approval of regulated prices from Energocom joint stock company (JSC). Intermediate processes are underway. We are in the process of evaluating the basic costs. This is an essential component in the structure of the regulated supply price. Subsequently, Energocom must submit a request for the approval of investments. After we have these two aspects, we can already talk about the submission by Energocom of the application for the approval of regulated prices for the supply of natural gas,” said Alexei Taran.

The ANRE director also said that the new tariffs would most likely be approved at the end of January–beginning of February.

“If we receive the application in the last week of January, I believe it will still take a few days, because we have had previous experience when we tried to approve it within a few days. So, it will definitely not be in March; it will be at the end of January, beginning of February,” the official noted.

Alexei Taran said that current trends pointed to a possible decrease in tariffs.

“At present, the price forecast for 2026 is much more positive than we had for 2025. At the same time, the Agency cannot now express or carry out certain analyses; this is the supplier’s task. When it submits the request, Energocom must present a forecast of monthly prices and of the annual weighted-average purchase price. Then we can make a determination. But, in general terms, we see a downward trend. My assumption is that Energocom will come with a weighted-average price below this year’s price. And from there will also result a reduction in the cost component of natural gas,” stressed the ANRE director.

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu has recently said that an analysis of the regional market shows that there is an opportunity for the natural gas tariff paid by consumers to decrease, but the calculations and final decision are to be approved by ANRE.

The latest change in the natural gas tariffs paid by end consumers was approved at the end of November 2024. Currently, citizens pay 15.50 lei (excluding VAT) per one cubic meter of gas.

Energocom in mid-September 2025 said that the average purchase price for the 2025–2026 gas year is forecast at about EUR 38.5/MWh (~ EUR 410/1000 m³), an amount that also includes the cost of transport to the Moldova virtual trading point (VTP).