The Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, is participating in the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Green Energy Advisory Council, taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. These high-level international events have brought together officials from around the world to discuss the challenges of ensuring energy security and transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

At the opening of the event, Minister Dorin Junghietu emphasized the importance of continuously diversifying natural gas supply sources to ensure the energy security of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of recent energy crises triggered by the Russian Federation.

“In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has faced a series of energy crises, starting in 2021, largely caused by Russia’s actions, which have tested our resilience and energy infrastructure. However, we have managed to turn these challenges into opportunities by strengthening our energy security and diversifying our supply sources,” stated Minister Junghietu.

The Moldovan official also reiterated the country's strong commitment to integrating the energy sector into the European Single Market ahead of its accession to the European Union and expressed gratitude for the constant support from the EU, Romania, Ukraine, and other international partners. The Minister stressed that the continued diversification of natural gas supply sources, including imports from Azerbaijan, remains essential to meeting Moldova’s energy needs.

“We were the first country to commercially use the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and among the first to benefit from LNG deliveries at the Alexandroupolis terminal. We have demonstrated the commercial viability of the vertical corridor by transporting gas to underground storage facilities in Ukraine. Even in the context of the risks posed by the war in Ukraine, we remain confident in the long-term viability of this model,” added Dorin Junghietu.

The Minister of Energy also expressed confidence in establishing a unified tariff for the entire Vertical Corridor, which will support commercial development and ensure its long-term sustainability.

“A transparent and unified tariff structure will make the Southern Gas Corridor more attractive to businesses and investors,” concluded Dorin Junghietu, reaffirming Moldova’s strong commitment to the common goals of energy security, sustainability, and market integration.

Regarding the energy transition, Dorin Junghietu emphasized that Moldova has already made significant progress in decarbonization and harnessing renewable energy.

“In the last four years, our installed renewable energy capacity has increased eightfold, and on March 31st we completed the first auction for 165 MW of photovoltaic and wind projects. We also plan to launch another auction by the end of this year, which will include energy storage systems to enhance the flexibility and stability of our grid,” the Energy Minister noted.

Another key topic addressed by Dorin Junghietu focused on energy efficiency programs for residential and public buildings, which are among the government’s core priorities.

“In our sector, the demand for energy-efficient solutions is continuously growing. We appreciate that international companies will bring the necessary expertise and investments to meet this demand,” the Minister added.

The events in Baku brought together ministers, high-ranking representatives from participating countries and Southern Gas Corridor partners, CEOs of major energy companies, as well as international financial institutions. During the meetings, global topics were discussed, including ensuring a continuous and reliable energy supply and tackling key challenges in the global energy landscape.