Moldova to buy trial volume of gas from Greece on Thurs

CHISINAU. April 13 (Interfax) - Moldovan state-owned company Energocom will buy 24 MWh or about 2,300 cubic meters of gas from the Greek gas operator DEPA on April 13 in test mode, the Energocom press service said.

The price of the gas, excluding delivery, will be 45 euros per MWh or about 477 euros per thousand cubic meters.

"The purpose of the purchase is to see how the supply chain will work: the reservation of capacity in each country through which the gas will pass - Greece, Bulgaria and Romania - the readings at each entry and exit point. All this in order to avoid financial risks in the event large volumes [are purchased]," Energocom said.

In addition to gas, the company purchased 1 MWh of electricity in test mode from Bulgaria's Nomad at 100 euros per MWh. Previously, Moldova imported electricity only from Romania and Ukraine.

Energocom has signed a contract with DEPA for the purchase of gas on April 6. "Greece is the main gateway in southern Europe for liquefied natural gas (LNG), more than half of which comes from the United States," Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said at the time.

The European Federation of Energy Traders or EFET contract is a framework contract and precedes any sales contract. The conclusion of this type of contract is mandatory for companies operating in the European Union, according to Energocom.

Moldova bought gas exclusively from Gazprom until the fall of 2021. Then the country began to buy gas from alternative sources, among them Romania.