site.btaRomania Exports Electricity, Natgas to Moldova Only after Covering Its Own Needs, Romanian Energy Minister Says

Romania is exporting electricity and natural gas to Moldova on a commercial basis and only after covering its own needs, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. He noted that he is making such a clarification to combat "toxic propaganda".

"For the Romanian energy sector, I want more than anything to continue taking steps toward the country's energy independence. This means never depending on others. Today (January 1) is also the first day that Russian gas no longer flows through Ukraine. Russia has used energy as a weapon of blackmail for decades, always threatening to 'turn off the tap'. And it continues to do so. Anyone dreaming of 'cheap Russian gas' should remember that freedom has no price. Without energy independence, there can be neither freedom nor security for a country," Burduja said.

The Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom cut off supplies to Moldova on January 1, claiming that the gas transmission company Moldovagaz is in debt. The suspension of supplies led to heating disruptions in the Russia-controlled Transnistrian region, prompting Chisinau to seek alternative sources of electricity.

"Russian gas has been cut off for the Kuchurgan power plant in Transnistria, which means that the Republic of Moldova faces a deficit of about 600 MW in electricity production to meet its consumption, relying on approximately 300 MW of local production," Burduja explained.

He added that the Republic of Moldova has secured its natural gas needs.

"There are commercial and emergency reserves of over 70 million cubic meters in Romania's gas storage facilities. The technical capacity for natural gas exports via the Iasi–Ungheni interconnector is 6.1 million cubic meters/day, which can cover the entire consumption between the Prut and Dniester rivers, even during cold winter days," the Romanian energy minister further said.

On December 31, 2024, the gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia expired, with the Ukrainian side announcing it ruled out a possible extension of the agreement.