Government approves plan on preparing for 2026–2027 heating season

The Government has approved the Action Plan on Preparing for 2026–2027 Heating Season. The document is approved annually and aims to ensure better coordination among the institutions responsible, risk monitoring, and prompt intervention in the event of vulnerabilities in the supply of energy resources.

The plan includes 52 concrete measures and scenarios designed to ensure the continuity and security of energy supplies for citizens and the economy during the cold season, including electricity, natural gas, thermal energy, and petroleum products. It also prepares authorities and operators to respond to potential supply disruptions.

The document was developed in the context of a continued difficult regional energy situation, marked by volatile gas prices, risks associated with the war in Ukraine, and the effects of drought on electricity production in the region. Under these conditions, the main objective is for the Republic of Moldova to enter the cold season with diversified supply sources, sufficient reserves, and mechanisms prepared for crisis situations.

“Gas prices on international markets have increased significantly, while the severe drought in the region has affected electricity production and inevitably impacted the market. The Government has taken all these risks into account and prepared the necessary measures to ensure that the country gets through the cold season safely. Every family must have access to energy and be able to get through the winter safely, regardless of what happens on international markets,” said Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu.

Thus, the plan establishes clear deadlines and identifies the institutions responsible for implementing measures directly related to natural gas, electricity, petroleum products, security and energy efficiency.

A priority for the cold season is strengthening the security of electricity supplies and increasing the country's capacity to use energy available on regional markets. In this context, the plan provides for the launch of commercial operations of the 400 kV Vulcănești–Chișinău line by the end of October, measures to increase commercial transmission capacity at the border with Romania, and maintaining the 110 kV lines in operational condition so that they can be used, when necessary, to supply the Republic of Moldova from Romania's power system.

The document also provides for assessing the possibility of meeting electricity demand through organized markets and imports. The National Agency for Energy Regulation will prepare the launch of the organized market for bilateral contracts.

In the natural gas sector, the plan focuses on diversifying supply sources and routes, as well as continuously strengthening reserves. Energocom is to replenish security stocks by October 1, 2026, while by November 1, 2026, all natural gas suppliers will complete the creation of stocks equivalent to 15% of annual consumption, proportionally to their market share.

Moldovagaz company, responsible for supplying natural gas to the Transnistrian region, will also ensure stocks equivalent to 15% of total consumption on the left bank of the Dniester. According to the document, for the 2026–2027 cold season, a quantity of 135.9 million cubic meters of gas has been established for storage by November 1 to supply the Transnistrian region.

Particular attention is also being paid to the technical preparation of infrastructure. By October 15, 2026, the necessary preparations for the cold season are to be completed at energy facilities, heating networks, and natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks.

Backup power sources for vital consumers, operators’ response capacity, alternative fuel reserves, and stocks of materials and equipment needed for operational interventions will also be checked. The plan includes measures to strengthen the protection of energy infrastructure against cyber risks.

Winter preparations are not limited to securing resources; they also involve reducing consumption wherever possible. Public institutions will monitor and report their energy and water consumption monthly, identify unjustified consumption, and propose measures for more efficient use of resources. At the same time, work carried out under energy efficiency programmes implemented by the National Center for Sustainable Energy will be strengthened, with a focus on vulnerable consumers and the residential sector.

The plan also provides for checking the compliance of petroleum products sold during the cold season, both at storage facilities and at filling stations. Inspections will focus on compliance with quality requirements and the technical parameters established for fuels, as well as the renewal of existing stocks. Experience from the previous season showed that low temperatures can affect the filterability of diesel fuel and the operation of vehicles, generators and other important equipment.