Creeping seizure: Moldovagaz was left without consumers

The Moldovan regulator appointed the state-owned company Energocom as a gas supplier to end users. Previously, Moldovagaz was engaged in this, the largest shareholder of which is Gazprom. Her creeping capture continues, experts say.

"Energocom JSC will supply natural gas to end—users on regulated terms, according to established, transparent and non-discriminatory quality parameters," the National Energy Regulatory Agency of Moldova (ANRE) reports.

The regulator motivated its decision by the fact that it seeks to protect public interests, ensure the stability of natural gas supplies and maintain a fair and predictable regulatory framework in the context of legislative and structural changes in the energy sector.

ANRE noted that the functions of a gas supplier to end users were previously performed by Moldovagaz OJSC. Gazprom is the largest shareholder in this company. He owns more than 63% of the shares. The rest are owned by Moldova and Transnistria.

"The decision was made in the context of the risk that Moldovagaz JSC will no longer be able to provide obligations for the provision of public services after July 31, 2025 due to non-compliance with the requirements of the legislation on the separation of activities for the supply and transportation of natural gas," the regulator reports.

Two applicants participated in the tender for the supplier, one of which was Energocom, and the second one dropped out, as he was disqualified due to non-compliance with the requirements. The regulator did not name the company.

"I want to assure you that today's decision of the National Energy Regulatory Agency will not affect the functionality of Moldovagaz JSC and the social responsibility that the company's management bears to the team," said the head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban.

According to him, the company continues to face the task of ensuring uninterrupted supply of natural gas to end users, as well as developing solutions to overcome the current situation.

"The decision of the regulator was brought to the attention of the company's shareholders. I will inform you about further actions and decisions in a timely manner," Vadim Cheban added.

Energocom has selected a large business line from Moldovagaz, as now 830 thousand household consumers and small businesses will become its customers. At the same time, Moldovagaz still has a distribution infrastructure.

Earlier, Energocom acquired the status of the main gas supplier to the country. Now the turn has reached the end users.

Alexey Grivach, Deputy director of the National Energy Security Fund (NFEB), notes that the creeping seizure of Moldovagaz by the Moldovan authorities has been going on for a long time.

"They are probably engaged in arbitrariness, taking advantage of the geopolitical situation, when non-fulfillment of contractual and even interstate obligations is increasingly becoming the norm. And Moldovagaz was created and operates within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement. But sooner or later the obligations will have to be fulfilled," notes the deputy director of the FNEB.

As EADaily reported, due to the suspension of Ukrainian transit, direct deliveries of Russian gas to Moldova have stopped. Even earlier, Gazprom's fuel began to be redirected to Transnistria, where the right bank bought cheap electricity. Reduced deliveries are saved in Transnistria, but they are already going through the Turkish Stream and European traders.

The Moldovan regulator has warned Moldovagaz that the company may lose its license if it does not comply with the requirement of the Third EU Energy Package on the division of sales, transportation and storage into various enterprises.

Last year, Moldovagaz held the election of a new chairman of the Management Board. The Moldovan government proposed its candidacy, but Gazprom did not agree on it. Vadim Cheban remains the interim head. Chisinau is pursuing an active anti-Russian policy, while refusing to recognize its historical debt to Gazprom.