The Government of the Republic of Moldova today approved the declaration of energy alert status at the national level for a period of 30 days. The measure is preventive in nature and aims to ensure the continuity of petroleum product supplies amid the rapidly deteriorating situation on international markets and logistical disruptions affecting the entire region.

The decision enables the authorities to respond more rapidly to maintain market operations and prevent potential disruptions in fuel supplies.

The need to introduce the energy alert status is driven by the overlapping of several risk factors affecting regional energy security.

On international markets, Platts diesel prices have risen rapidly, reaching approximately USD 1,300 per tonne, compared with USD 880–900 per tonne in mid-June. At the same time, the price of Brent crude oil has exceeded USD 100 per barrel, placing additional pressure on import costs.

In parallel, the conflict in the Middle East and attacks on maritime routes in the Red Sea have disrupted global supply chains, forcing carriers to use longer and more costly alternative routes. Maritime transport times have increased by up to four weeks, while logistics costs have risen significantly.

The situation is further aggravated by a regional diesel shortage caused by the suspension of Kazakh crude oil deliveries through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk, re-export restrictions applied in Bulgaria, and disruptions to oil infrastructure in the Black Sea region.

At the same time, low water levels on the Danube have reduced barge transport capacity to approximately half of the usual volume and restricted access for large ocean-going vessels to the Giurgiulești International Free Port, resulting in a significant shift of logistical flows to road transport.

As a result of these developments, commercial diesel stocks in the Republic of Moldova have declined from the equivalent of 17.6 days of consumption at the end of June to 6.9 days, requiring careful management of available resources.

By declaring the energy alert status, the authorities are activating a set of measures aimed at ensuring continuity of supply and market operations. These include greater flexibility in price-setting mechanisms to reflect actual import costs, prioritization of customs procedures for petroleum products, and the establishment of green lanes at the border to accelerate deliveries.

Measures will also be implemented to prevent speculative purchases and maintain continuity of supply at filling stations.

The National Crisis Management Commission will coordinate the strategic measures adopted during the energy alert period, while the Ministry of Energy will coordinate the sectoral response and continuously monitor market developments.

At present, due to the domestic price regulation mechanism, petroleum products in the Republic of Moldova are among the cheapest in the region. However, this creates a risk that commercial flows could be redirected to other markets during periods of regional shortages. The measures approved by the Government are aimed at mitigating this risk and ensuring a stable supply for consumers in the Republic of Moldova.