Romania’s gas transmission system operator Transgaz has announced the acquisition of Gazprom’s operations in Moldova, a strategic move likely to further reduce Chișinău’s dependence on Russian gas.
As part of the negotiations with the European Union, Moldova committed the unbundling of gas production, transport, distribution and supply, aiming to prevent monopolies and ensure the access of all interested parties to the infrastructure.
Despite a 2016 unbundling law, Gazprom, the majority shareholder of Moldovatransgaz, refused to comply, leading the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) to consider revoking Moldovatransgaz’s licence.
However, while Moldovatransgaz retains ownership of the assets (pipelines), Vestmoldtransgaz will assume operational control from 19 September.
The shareholders of Vestmoldtransgaz are Transgaz Romania with 75% and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with 25%.
Over the next five years, Transgaz’s subsidiary will be the sole licensed operator for natural gas transportation on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Ion Sterian, Transgaz’s general director, emphasised that the company is now ”actively contributing to regional energy security”.
“This unbundling, which the Republic of Moldova has postponed since 2012, is a huge step towards aligning with European legislation”, Moldova’s Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said.
This solution is ”provisional”, and ”the monopoly must be broken”, Moldova’s former defence minister Anatol Șalaru said on B1 TV.
Moldova, which has relied heavily on Russian gas, has been working to diversify its energy sources, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In May 2023, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean announced that the country was no longer dependent on natural gas or electricity from Russia.
(Cătălina Mihai | EURACTIV.ro)
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