Moldova sees Azerbaijani gas flow to Ukraine as strengthening regional ties

Moldova’s Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu has welcomed the start of Azerbaijani gas deliveries to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, describing the move as a significant step towards enhancing energy security in Southeast Europe.

Following the landmark gas supply agreement between Ukraine’s Naftogaz and SOCAR Energy Ukraine, the subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil company, the minister hailed the move as a strategic development that would deliver “direct benefits” across the wider Southeast European region, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“Gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine not only reinforce that country’s energy security but also bring tangible benefits to Southeast European nations,” Junghietu said.

He noted that Moldova was the first country to test the viability of the so-called Vertical Gas Corridor, having commercially utilised the Greece–Bulgaria interconnector and successfully conducted reverse flows via the Trans-Balkan pipeline to deliver US liquefied natural gas to Ukraine.

“We have demonstrated—both technically and economically—that it is feasible to transport gas from Greece to storage facilities in Ukraine,” he said. “These pilot deliveries clearly support an alternative business model to that of the dominant Russian supplier, Gazprom.”

Junghietu added that the ability to use regional transit infrastructure to access Ukraine’s gas storage capacities is becoming increasingly appealing and accessible.

The minister described current Azerbaijani gas flows as a “new phase” in regional efforts to diversify energy supply routes and strengthen resilience.

In May, Moldova joined four other countries along the Vertical Corridor route in launching a new regional gas transportation product that allows for gas to be moved from Greece to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan network.

“This mechanism enabled natural gas to be transported between June and October 2025 with discounts of at least 25%,” he explained. “It also ensured more efficient use of existing infrastructure and access to cheaper gas across the region, including Moldova.”

Naftogaz and SOCAR Energy Ukraine signed their inaugural agreement on 28 July, paving the way for the first test shipment of Azerbaijani gas through the Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine corridor, utilising the Trans-Balkan route.

The Vertical Gas Corridor initiative aims to enhance energy security, ensure uninterrupted energy flows, and provide access to diversified gas sources for countries including Bulgaria and other Southeast European nations.

The corridor comprises pipeline networks in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and neighbouring states.

The Trans-Balkan pipeline is a major natural gas artery crossing through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye.

By Aghakazim Guliyev