Today, the Government has declared a state of alert in the energy sector for a period of 60 days, in connection with the external situation and regional risks. The measure is intended as mitigation and prevention, aimed at protecting domestic consumption and maintaining the stability of the electricity system. It ensures the continuity of supply of petroleum products and electricity, as well as maintaining petroleum product reserves for the next 30 days of consumption.

The decision was made following an analysis of external factors and energy markets by the National Crisis Management Center, the Ministry of Energy, and the National Energy Regulatory Agency. Currently, increased volatility is observed in petroleum markets due to the situation in the Middle East, the ongoing disruption of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following repeated attacks by the Russian Federation, and the temporary suspension of operations at certain regional oil refineries.

Under these circumstances, the state of alert is a preventive measure that will allow for maintaining sufficient petroleum product stocks for domestic consumption, ensuring continuity of electricity supply—especially during peak hours—and protecting consumers.

The draft government decision introduces temporary conditions on the export of petroleum products to maintain stocks at a safety threshold. Measures are also provided to prioritize domestic electricity consumption during peak hours, ensuring supply for local consumers and protecting the stability of the electricity system. Additionally, a temporary regime of strengthened inter-institutional coordination is introduced for 60 days, and state reserves will be replenished.

It should be noted that, unlike a state of emergency, which involves a strict regime with measures allowing deviations from existing legislation, a state of alert is a preventive measure that enables authorities to act more quickly and coordinate responsible institutions more effectively, ensuring that available energy resources primarily cover domestic consumption in the Republic of Moldova.