Moldova may purchase up to 50 million cubic meters of gas from Ukraine
3 November 21:17
Moldova is considering increasing its natural gas purchases from Ukraine. The state-owned company Energocom is in talks with several Ukrainian suppliers regarding the purchase of 10 to 50 million cubic meters of gas. The final volumes will depend on gas availability and the agreed-upon price. This was reported by Moldova1 , as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
Moldova’s Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghiu, made this statement. According to him, the country is trying to negotiate a price below market value.
“Depending on which contracts are signed, the volumes could range from 10 to 50 million cubic meters. Much depends on gas availability, but ultimately—on the agreed-upon pricing formula,” the minister noted.
He added that negotiations are ongoing and are of a commercial nature, so the government is not disclosing their details at this time.
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The first gas purchases from Ukraine have already taken place
Last week, Energocom purchased its first 2 million cubic meters of natural gas from private suppliers in Ukraine. According to Moldovan authorities, the purchase price was lower than European market rates.
Energy expert Sergiu Tofilat explains that sourcing from Ukraine could be beneficial for Moldova primarily due to lower transportation costs.
“Right now, this is more attractive to us because Ukraine is located right next to us, and, consequently, the cost of transporting gas to our country is significantly lower. This means we can save 5–10 euros per megawatt-hour compared to the exchange price,” he said during an appearance on the “În Context” program on Moldova 1.
At the same time, the expert cautioned that Ukraine is unlikely to be able to offer Moldova large volumes of gas. Ukraine’s gas production infrastructure has been damaged by Russian shelling, and the country must first and foremost meet its own needs.
According to Tofilat, Ukrainian producers have received permission to export about 30% of the gas they produce. However, this involves sales at market prices, not at regulated domestic prices.
“They aren’t doing charity work, and they aren’t selling gas cheaply—they’re selling it at market prices,” the expert emphasized.
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Why Moldova Is Seeking Alternative Gas Sources
The need to diversify procurement is growing due to price volatility on the European market, particularly against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East.
According to Tofilat, before the conflict with Iran in mid-February of this year, gas on the exchange cost approximately 30–31 euros per megawatt-hour. Currently, he estimates, the price has roughly tripled. The expert believes that Moldova needs to change its approach to procurement and not rely exclusively on exchange quotations.
He also suggests using financial hedging—tools that provide protection against sharp price fluctuations. According to him, such a model should combine purchases during periods of favorable market conditions, gas storage, and fixed-price contracts.
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How much does gas cost for Moldova?
Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu reported that the purchase price of gas under contracts for November is 84–86 euros per megawatt-hour. In October, it stood at 76–78 euros.
According to him, the rate for residential consumers may be revised by the end of November. The decision will depend on procurement costs, consumption volumes, and weather conditions. Currently, residential consumers in Moldova pay 26 lei and 14 bani per cubic meter of gas, including VAT. This rate has been in effect since October 1.
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