Moldova increases gas reserves in Romania
Moldova is storing approximately 25 million cubic metres of natural gas in Romania, according to a statement by Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov.
Parlicov said that most of the gas is stored in Ukraine, where prices are lower.
"These are security stocks, not commercial stocks," Parlicov said. "The vast majority of stocks are stored in Ukraine. We will reach almost 25 million cubic metres in Romania very soon. We are interested in how we can extract this gas from the storage when we need it, with the speed we need for consumption. But in Romania, the extraction capacity from storage is limited, so we don't store the largest volumes here. Second, the commercial conditions, the prices in Ukraine are several times lower than in Romania. Thus, we diversify the risks, we keep a part of the volume in Romania, but still we keep the majority in Ukraine."
Parlicov also said that the natural gas reserves are intended for consumption only in exceptional situations.
Security gas stocks were first created in Moldova last year, in the context of the energy crisis. They are stored in Ukraine and Romania. In 2023, the government decided to create them by October 1.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
