Post by Energy Community

Moldova tests gas emergency procedures, strengthening crisis response mechanisms 👇 Moldovan authorities and energy sector stakeholders — including system operators, suppliers, traders, and large consumers — came together on Tuesday, 9 June, to conduct a Gas Security of Supply table-top exercise, simulating high- and medium-impact scenarios and testing responses in real time in line with the national emergency plan. 🧐 This is the first exercise of its kind in Moldova, marking an important step in strengthening the Energy Community Contracting Party's emergency preparedness and crisis response capacity. Lessons learned will be shared with the broader Energy Community region through the Gas Security of Supply Coordination Group, and feed directly into Moldova's national gas risk assessment. Moldova’s reliance on imported natural gas — the main fuel for electricity and heat in the Energy Community Contracting Party — makes its energy system particularly exposed to seasonal demand swings and supply shocks. This vulnerability was underscored starting with 2021 energy crisis, when disruptions to Russian gas supplies revealed structural weaknesses in supply security. ⌛ Since then, Moldova has advanced EU-aligned reforms to strengthen resilience, diversify supply sources, and reduce dependence on single suppliers. 👉 A major milestone was reached on 1 April 2026, when Moldova opened its gas market to large non-household consumers, representing more than half of national demand. This reform is expected to enhance competition and improve access to more diversified and affordable gas supplies. 👉 In addition, Moldova has gone beyond EU requirements by securing gas storage volumes exceeding 20% of average annual consumption and, for the first time in 2025, extending storage arrangements to the Transnistrian region, thereby reducing systemic risks. For more on Moldova and the Tabletop exercise, head to our website. ----- #Moldova #gasmarkets #securityofsupply #energypolicy #naturalgas #crisisresponse #energysecurity --- Svitlana Karpyshyna, Karolina Čegir, Denis Tumuruc