Minister: Azerbaijan helped Moldova diversify gas supplies during energy crisis

Azerbaijan played a significant role in helping Moldova diversify its gas supply sources during one of the most challenging energy crises in the country's history, Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said at the 31st Baku Energy Forum.

Addressing participants at the forum, Junghietu said Moldova had been forced to undertake major reforms in response to severe energy security challenges and its dependence on a limited number of energy suppliers, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

"The country was forced to take decisive steps to transition to access based on a European framework. This transformation was driven by necessity. Our experience shows that excessive dependence on a single energy source has a very negative impact on the economy, politics, and the country's future. Therefore, to respond to the severe energy crisis and security challenges, we had to act simultaneously in several directions," he said.

One of the most important measures, according to the minister, was the rapid synchronisation of Moldova's transmission system operators with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), alongside Ukraine. He said the move provided access to more stable and diversified electricity supplies.

Junghietu highlighted gas supply diversification as another crucial step in strengthening the country's energy security, crediting Romania, Bulgaria, and Azerbaijan for their support.

"They provided significant assistance to Moldova in ensuring diversified access to reliable gas sources, which allowed us to overcome the crisis," he added.

The minister also noted that Moldova has recently liberalised its energy market, enabling businesses and other economic actors to access a broader range of supply sources.

Looking ahead, Junghietu said renewable energy development remains a central pillar of Moldova's long-term energy strategy.

"We have made renewable energy a central part of our overall energy strategy and, in just four years, increased installed capacity twelvefold-from 77 megawatts to 1 gigawatt," he said.

In addition to expanding renewable generation, Moldova is investing in energy storage systems and building new interconnection infrastructure with Romania and Ukraine. The projects are aimed at improving energy resilience and reducing the country's dependence on imports during periods of peak demand.

By Sabina Mammadli