Moldovagaz regulator instructed to ramp up gas reserves for Transdniestria 2.5-fold by November
CHISINAU. Sept 2 (Interfax) - The board of directors of the Moldova National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) has raised the gas reserve target for the heating season in Transdniestria by 2.5-fold to 136 million cubic meters from 53.7 million cubic meters, ANRE said in a statement.
The regulator in August published a draft decision on this. JSC Moldovagaz, in which Gazprom has a controlling stake of 63%, will be Transdniestria's gas supplier until December 31, 2026.
"ANRE has established a new volume of stored energy based on data provided by Moldovagaz. Thus, the previously established volume of 53.7 million cubic meters has been updated to 135.972 million cubic meters," the regulator said in a press release.
The statement indicated that the amount of natural gas to be stored was determined based on the average annual consumption of end consumers in the Transdniestrian region over the past five years, excluding consumption intended for the generation of electricity supplied outside the region.
The gas reserve for the upcoming heating season must be set by November 1, 2026.
ANRE at the meeting on Tuesday also confirmed the previously approved decision to create 140.36 million cubic meters of gas reserves by November 1 to meet the needs of right-bank Moldova.
Meanwhile, the shares of suppliers required to maintain reserves have been redistributed in line with the regulator's decision. The share of the largest supplier, state-owned Energocom, has been reduced from 134.5 million cubic meters to 72.75 million cubic meters. The remaining reserves have been redistributed primarily to its subsidiary, Energocom Trading, which is required to store 54.26 million cubic meters. The remaining volume is divided among eight suppliers.
The regulator explained that the redistribution of shares is related to the liberalization of the gas market effective April 1 of this year, when large consumers switched to purchasing natural gas at agreed prices from suppliers on the competitive market. As a result, 203 large consumers, accounting for 55% of total natural gas consumption in the country, have entered into contracts for the supply of natural gas on the competitive market.
ANRE in April this year approved Moldovagaz's decision to establish a gas reserve of 53.7 million cubic meters for Transdniestria.
The Moldovan government In June ordered Moldovagaz to establish a reserve for the left bank of the Dniester equal to 15% of the average annual natural gas consumption of end consumers in the region. Annual gas consumption in Transdniestria is currently approximately 1 billion cubic meters.
ANRE in August of last year instructed Moldovagaz to ensure gas supplies to Transdniestria after revoking the company's license to supply gas to right-bank Moldova. Moldovagaz was also appointed responsible for establishing and maintaining natural gas reserves intended for consumers in Transdniestria. Moldovagaz's current status as the responsible supplier to Transdniestria is valid until the end of this year.
