Parliament speaker says Moldova does not risk running out of fuel

Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu assures that Moldova does not risk running out of fuel, in the context of difficulties on the fuel market and the declaration of a state of alert in the energy sector.

According to Grosu, the two states of alert – in the energy sector and in the hydrological sector – were introduced precisely to allow the authorities to react quickly and manage the effects of possible crises.

“Precisely for this reason, these two states of alert were introduced, both in the energy sector and in the hydrological sector, as a response to these crises,” Igor Grosu said.

The parliament speaker noted that the difficulties regarding fuel deliveries are linked, among other things, to the security situation in the area of the port of Novorossiysk. According to him, Kazakhstan and Romania have identified an alternative delivery route that will no longer pass through this port.

“We see that Kazakhstan has found a solution. In Romania, they will no longer ensure deliveries through Novorossiysk. It is a matter of ship and port infrastructure security. I understood that a solution was found through another country. Deliveries are already being prepared, although it will take a few days until it reaches Constanta and from Constanta further on,” Grosu said.

The speaker gave assurances that the authorities would take the necessary measures to supply the domestic market.

“We do not risk running out of fuel. The government, including through the decisions to be taken by the Crisis Management Commission, will come forward with measures to help importers and market players, fuel suppliers, to provide diesel on the market,” Igor Grosu said.

He specified that the authorities were particularly concerned with ensuring diesel supplies for farmers, given that the harvest period is in full swing.

“The day before yesterday evening a ship entered the port of Giurgiulesti, and today another one was expected to arrive. So, the government is doing everything possible to provide farmers with diesel as quickly as possible during the harvest period,” the parliament speaker said.

Grosu underlined that the authorities are monitoring the situation and are seeking solutions to maintain fuel supplies, so that possible disruptions of import routes do not affect consumers and the agricultural sector.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan today said that Moldova has the lowest fuel prices in the region, due to the regulated mechanism for setting them. In this context, the authorities must ensure that the country also has the necessary volumes of oil products and that they do not go primarily to other markets in the region.

“We have the lowest diesel price in the region, because we regulate the price. With July 27 price of 30.71 lei, in Ukraine, for example, where there is a free, unregulated market, the pump price is 35 lei. In Romania, it is almost 40 lei,” Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said at the beginning of today’s extraordinary government meeting.

Moldova's uninterrupted supply with petroleum products and the implementation of the new measures approved by the government were the main topics discussed by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan during a meeting with fuel importers. The discussions took place in the context of the declaration of a state of alert in the energy sector for 30 days, a decision taken against the background of regional disruptions, declining diesel stocks and rising international prices.

“Our priority is to maintain stable fuel supply at the pump, at a fair price, especially in the middle of the agricultural season. We aim to work in close coordination to unblock imports and protect the domestic market,” Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said.

The government has declared a state of alert in the energy sector for a period of 30 days, in the context of regional developments and the conflict in the Middle East, which have led to an increase in prices for petroleum products. The decision was approved today by the cabinet, which convened at an extraordinary meeting. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan explained that the decision was necessary for effective management of the situation.

“It is a complicated situation. The decision is necessary not to create panic, but to manage the situation efficiently,” Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said at the beginning of the government meeting.

According to the National Crisis Management Centre, declaring a state of alert in the energy sector at national level for a period of 30 days aims to prevent a possible disruption of supply in the energy sector.