State Secretaries of the Ministry of Energy, Carolina Novac and Cristina Pereteatcu, held a working meeting with experts from the international rating agency Fitch Ratings, in the context of the evaluation process for establishing Moldova’s sovereign credit rating.

“The country rating is a key indicator of Moldova’s economic credibility and our ability to attract strategic investments. In the energy sector, where we are developing major projects in renewable energy, storage, and energy efficiency, including energy performance contracts, a strong rating reduces financing costs and sends a clear signal of stability and predictability to investors. For us, strengthening the rating is not just a macroeconomic goal but a prerequisite for accelerating the energy transition and enhancing the competitiveness of the economy,” said Carolina Novac.

During the meeting, the main developments in the energy sector were presented, along with the risk management framework, structural reforms implemented in recent years, and investment perspectives, especially in renewable energy.

Representatives of the Ministry of Energy presented priority investments in electricity infrastructure, including interconnection projects with Romania and the development of high-voltage power lines. The risk preparedness framework was highlighted, strengthened through the annual approval, starting in 2022, of the Cold Season Preparedness Plan, as well as the application of regulations regarding emergency situations in the electricity and natural gas sectors, in accordance with EU Regulation 2019/941 on risk preparedness.

Authorities emphasized the effectiveness of these measures, demonstrated by the fact that in recent winters no major disruptions in energy supply were recorded, and the blackout on January 31 was resolved in a short time.

The discussions also highlighted significant progress in aligning the legal framework of energy markets with European standards. Reforms in market liberalization were presented: starting April 1, 2026, all large natural gas consumers will be required to purchase gas on the free market. Since 2025, Moldova has transposed the Electricity Integration Package and launched organized wholesale electricity markets, including day-ahead and intraday segments.

A key milestone for gas infrastructure independence was ANRE’s decision on August 4, 2025, to revoke Moldovagaz’s natural gas supply license and transfer the supply activity to the state-owned company Energocom.

Ministry officials presented a positive investment outlook for the energy sector, with an emphasis on renewable energy. Carolina Novac informed that from February 19 to March 31, 2026, the submission of bids will open for the second tender for the development of 170 MW wind farms, including the integration of energy storage systems (BESS).

Authorities also support small-scale renewable investments at the residential level, Waste-to-Energy projects, biogas production, and the exploration of small modular nuclear (SMR) technologies.

In addition, financing programs for the residential sector and energy efficiency projects in public buildings were presented. The National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) focuses primarily on the energy modernization of the housing stock, including dedicated financial mechanisms and energy performance contracts.

Other topics addressed included the digitalization of the energy sector and the opportunities offered by the Sandbox, the first controlled testing space for innovations in the energy sector.