With the support of the Energy Community Secretariat and European partners, the Ministry of Energy held a tabletop exercise in Chișinău on the security of natural gas supply.

The exercise was aimed at testing the response and coordination capacity of public authorities, system operators and natural gas market participants in the event of crisis situations that could affect the Republic of Moldova’s natural gas supply.

Representatives of public authorities, energy sector operators, regulatory institutions, suppliers, traders, relevant consumers and European partners took part in the exercise.

The activity was carried out in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s alignment with the European Union acquis on the security of natural gas supply, in particular the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply.

The exercise also contributed to testing the implementation of the relevant national regulatory framework, including Government Decision No. 728/2024 and the Regulation on Emergency Situations in the Natural Gas Sector, which establish mechanisms for prevention, preparedness, coordination and response in the event of major risks to the functioning of the natural gas sector.

Several scenarios were simulated during the exercise, including potential supply disruptions, restrictions on delivery routes, the temporary unavailability of relevant sources or infrastructure, increased consumption under severe weather conditions, and the need to implement measures provided for in emergency plans.

Participants assessed the application of procedures and responsibilities established under the national and European regulatory frameworks, including communication flows, the declaration of crisis levels, interinstitutional coordination, market monitoring, the protection of vulnerable consumers, and the identification of measures needed to maintain security of supply.

“This is a collective preparedness exercise, and cooperation with the responsible institutions and the Energy Community Secretariat is essential. The Republic of Moldova has made significant progress in strengthening energy security, which requires not only infrastructure and diversified sources, but also institutions that are prepared to respond rapidly and in a coordinated manner in emergency situations. Against the backdrop of the current challenges in the region, preparedness and response capacity remain essential elements in ensuring the energy security of the Republic of Moldova,” said Vitalie Mîța, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.

The exercise provided a practical framework for assessing institutional response capacity, strengthening cooperation among authorities, operators and market participants, and aligning the Republic of Moldova with European best practices in crisis management in the natural gas sector.

By organizing this exercise, the Republic of Moldova is strengthening its capacity to prevent and manage risks in the natural gas sector and is testing, in a practical format, the effectiveness of the mechanisms established by the national and European regulatory frameworks on security of supply.