Ministry: Moldova turns to Azerbaijan for oil, gas imports to boost energy security

Moldova’s Energy Ministry has announced that Moldova is looking to broaden its energy supply options by exploring the import of oil products and natural gas from Azerbaijan.

Moldova’s Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu, who was on an official visit to Baku on April 4, held high-level discussions with key figures in Azerbaijan’s energy sector, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

In a meeting with Rovshan Najaf, the president of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), Junghietu expressed Moldova’s interest in diversifying its energy sources, with a particular focus on securing oil and natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan.  

The minister highlighted Moldova’s intention to enhance energy security by tapping into Azerbaijani resources, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional suppliers.

“We are eager to explore SOCAR’s capabilities to export oil products and natural gas to Moldova at competitive prices compared to other countries, ensuring the accessibility and security of energy supplies,” Junghietu remarked. 

Further discussions also focused on attracting investments from Azerbaijani energy companies to Moldova’s energy sector, presenting the potential for fruitful and mutually advantageous cooperation between the two nations. In addition, Junghietu proposed sharing information on Moldova's energy sector investment climate, with the goal of drawing in new investments and fostering long-term strategic partnerships between Moldova and Azerbaijan. 

The visit coincided with two significant energy-related meetings in Baku: the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Consultative Council and the 3rd Consultative Council Meeting on Green Energy. Moldova’s delegation participated in both events, where Junghietu emphasised the critical need to continually diversify Moldova’s natural gas supply sources to bolster energy security. 

Moreover, he underscored the importance of collaborating with international investors to support the growth of renewable energy production and its integration into Moldova’s energy grid, as well as advancing initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency across the country.

By Naila Huseynova