---
title: "Soaring European gas prices trigger 29% tariff hike request "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85737/soaring-european-gas-prices-trigger-29-tariff-hike-request
published: 2026-09-24T04:30:00Z
language: en
author: "Dumitru Petruleac"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Soaring European gas prices trigger 29% tariff hike request 

> Moldova’s state energy supplier Energocom requested a 29.3% natural gas tariff increase on Wednesday, citing rapid price surges across European trading hubs that prevent using past accounting profits to subsidise rates.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/dcf80d71-0fbb-4abe-a655-23305b24f4e3.jpg)

Moldova’s state energy supplier Energocom requested a 29.3% natural gas tariff increase on Wednesday, citing rapid price surges across European trading hubs that prevent using past accounting profits to subsidise rates.

*„Profitul respectiv a fost format în urma următoarelor acțiuni. În 2023, la un moment dat, Energocom a comercializat, a vândut gazele din portofoliu sub prețul de achiziție, generând deficit. Lucrul ăsta a fost făcut, hai să zicem așa, practic conștient, ori noi cunoșteam atunci că vom fi beneficiarii unui grant, Grantul Nansen, despre care tot s-a vorbit. Grantul ăsta a fost anume pentru a acoperi acel minus. Deci, în 2024, noi am primit grantul Nansen, l-am trecut la profit și profitul respectiv am acoperit deficitul din 2023”*, a explicat Buzatu.

Buzatu a precizat că profitul acumulat de Energocom nu poate fi folosit pentru a reduce impactul noii majorări de tarif. *„Absolut. Nu pot fi folosiți în atenuarea prețurilor sau tarifelor reglementate”*, a declarat directorul companiei.

If approved by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), household retail tariffs will climb from 20.30 MDL (€1.00) to 26.24 MDL (€1.30) per cubic metre. This adjustment would mark the third price hike for domestic consumers since January 2026, when tariffs stood at 16.74 MDL per cubic metre.

**Past profits tied to historical deficit**

Addressing public scrutiny over the company’s reported 2025 profit exceeding €19.8 million (approx. 400 million MDL), Energocom Director Eugeniu Buzatu clarified that these funds cannot offset rising consumer prices. Buzatu explained that the surplus resulted from Norway's Nansen support grant, which covered severe procurement deficits incurred in 2023 when gas was sold below purchase cost.

*“The recorded profit came entirely from the Nansen Grant, which was allocated specifically to bridge that past shortfall,”* Buzatu said during a television broadcast. *“These funds are already committed to covering historical deficits and cannot legally or practically be used to mitigate regulated end-user tariffs.”*

Buzatu stressed that the company faces severe liquidity pressures after European benchmark quotations climbed from €56.25 per megawatt-hour (MWh)—the baseline used in setting the September 1 tariff—to roughly €73/MWh. Energocom has already accumulated €9.25 million (approx. 187 million MDL) in negative tariff deviations.

**European benchmark surges trigger regulatory review**

ANRE Director General Alexei Taran confirmed that recent spikes on the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) left the regulator with little room for manoeuvre. Under established regulatory methodology, a variance exceeding 1% between projected and actual procurement costs compels suppliers to submit urgent tariff adjustments.

*“European quotations surged by nearly 30% compared to late August, briefly touching €83 per megawatt-hour last week before settling between €73 and €75,”* Taran said. *“Moldova imports all of its natural gas, meaning any international market turbulence hits us immediately.”*

Taran noted that unlike previous years when suppliers accumulated long-term debts, Energocom must now purchase supplies with upfront payments. Without timely retail price adjustments ahead of peak winter heating demand, the state trader risks facing cash-flow shortages that could disrupt ongoing import contracts.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

***
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