Energocom becomes gas supplier to Moldova instead of Gazprom subsidiary

CHISINAU. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Moldovan state-owned enterprise Energocom officially became the country's natural gas supplier on September 1 instead of JSC Moldovagaz, which is more than 60% controlled by Russia's Gazprom , Energocom said.

Energocom assumes obligations to supply gas to utility providers and act as supplier of last resort.

Gas supply contracts concluded by consumers with Moldovagaz remain in force and are transferred to Energocom without the need to renegotiate them. The current natural gas tariff remains unchanged.

Moldovagaz will continue to provide services on behalf of Energocom through its 12 commercial offices in Moldova during a transition period.

Energocom will send its first bills in early October for gas consumed in September.

It was previously reported that in early August, the Moldovan National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) revoked Moldovagaz's license for supplying natural gas, and from September 1, Energocom will become the main gas supplier for more than 830,000 end consumers in Moldova. Moldovagaz will continue its distribution activities.

The Moldovan authorities have said their commitment to implementing the EU's Third Energy Package, which rules out a monopoly on the supply, transmission and distribution of energy resources, was behind the license decision. ANRE previously said Moldovagaz had officially notified the regulator that it would not be able to unbundle gas supply and transmission functions by the regulator's deadline of August 1, 2025, citing a lack of consensus among majority shareholders and the fact that this decision lies outside the authority of the company's management.

Moldovagaz and Energocom last week signed a contract for invoicing and servicing end consumers for a period of seven months with the possibility of its extension.

Moldovagaz has been designated as the entity that will supply gas to Transdniestria until April 1, 2026.

Right-bank Moldova has been purchasing gas on the European market since December 2022, with supplies carried out by Moldovagaz. Moldovagaz directly supplied Russian gas to Transdniestria under its previous license until January 1, 2025.

At the beginning of last week, Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Recean said Energocom had purchased 620 million cubic meters of gas for the upcoming heating season, which is about 80% of right-bank Moldova's needs. The Moldovan authorities have said they have secured a loan of 400 million euros from the EBRD for the state-owned company to buy gas.