Moldova implements energy export restrictions starting January 2025
Starting from January 1, 2025, between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM, electricity produced domestically will only be traded on the internal market.
Its export will be prohibited during this period, except on holidays and non-working days. A provision to this effect has been adopted by the Emergency Situations Commission (CSE).
Additionally, electricity producers and/or suppliers on the domestic market without sale-purchase contracts will sell electricity to SA Energocom at a price cap, which will not exceed the minimum price Energocom has contracted with energy producers.
Furthermore, within five working days of the CSE decision, the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) will adjust the prices of electricity and thermal energy produced by heating companies, based on the components of the current price and tariff, applying the current purchase price of natural gas.
According to the CSE provision, if Gazprom halts natural gas deliveries to consumers on the left bank of the Dniester, Vestmoldtransgaz will not hold quarterly, monthly, daily, or intraday capacity reservation auctions, nor will it accept nominations at the Grebeniki interconnection point until the conditions for guaranteeing transit by SRL Tiraspoltransgaz are fulfilled.
The CSE provision also states that during the state of emergency, no penalties for missed payment deadlines will be imposed between participants in the retail and wholesale electricity markets. The same measure applies to natural gas deliveries, for a period not exceeding 45 days.
Another approved measure allows the temporary installation of electrical generators on public land adjacent to private property during the state of emergency, without prior approval of the installation scheme, as long as safety, access, and public order regulations are observed. Local public authorities and public institutions that have heating plants operating on solid biofuels will prioritize using these facilities.
It should be noted that, since December 16, the Republic of Moldova has been under a state of emergency due to a potential humanitarian crisis in the Transnistrian region caused by Russia's failure to honor the natural gas delivery contract to consumers on the left bank of the Dniester. This situation could lead to interruptions in electricity production at the Cuciurgan Power Plant.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
