The Ministry of Energy has submitted a draft law to amend the relevant article of the Law on Natural Gas, aimed at strengthening the security of natural gas supply to the Transnistrian region.

The objective of the draft law is to reduce risks related to the natural gas supply of the region, arising from ongoing uncertainties regarding the continuity of deliveries.

The draft proposes amending the storage obligation so that the entity responsible for supplying the Transnistrian region ensures the creation of natural gas reserves covering at least 15% of the average annual consumption of all consumers in the region, calculated over the last five years.

This calculation will include not only households and social enterprises but all consumers in the region, in accordance with EU Directive requirements. The determination of the average annual consumption will consider only the internal needs of consumers in the Transnistrian region, excluding electricity produced by MGRES and delivered outside the region.

The draft law stipulates that during the heating season, the responsible entity will report monthly to the Ministry of Energy and ANRE (National Energy Regulatory Agency) on the level of natural gas reserves. The use of these reserves will be gradual, between November 1 and March 31, with any monthly limit exceedance allowed only in justified cases to prevent a natural gas crisis, subject to approval by ANRE and the Ministry of Energy.

These measures will increase the resilience of gas supply, prevent uncontrolled use of reserves, and maintain gas availability throughout the risk period. They will also reduce exposure to price shocks and emergency purchases, mitigating risks for the energy sector and the national economy, considering the interdependencies between the two banks of the Dniester River.

The draft also responds to risks arising from interruptions and uncertainties in gas deliveries to the region, which have been exacerbated by geopolitical factors and existing vulnerabilities in the energy sector. The Republic of Moldova is fully dependent on gas imports and lacks its own storage capacity, making supply interruptions or price fluctuations directly impactful for consumers.

Gas deliveries to the Transnistrian region by SAP Gazprom were interrupted starting January 1, 2025, following the expiration of the technical operation agreement for the Sudja pipeline between Ukraine’s OST and SAP Gazprom. This situation increased risks for consumers in the region. Since then, gas purchases for the region have been secured from EU markets.

In 2025, the Law on Natural Gas was amended, and Article 851 established ANRE’s responsibility to designate the entity responsible for supplying gas to the Transnistrian region. The designated entity is required to create reserves covering at least 15% of the average annual consumption of households, enterprises, and essential social institutions in the region, calculated over the last five calendar years.