The Ministry of Energy has launched public consultations on the amendments to the Natural Gas Law. The document was developed by the Ministry of Energy with the support of the European Union through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), as well as USAID through the Moldova Energy Security Activity (MESA) project.

The proposed amendments introduce harmonized unified tariffs for natural gas distribution services—this measure will further stimulate the liberalization of the gas market and increase the share of the free market.

Currently, distribution tariffs vary depending on the company, with the lowest tariff in Chișinău and the highest in Taraclia. Harmonized distribution tariffs across the country will enable suppliers to expand their operations throughout Moldova and create more competitive conditions for final consumers in purchasing natural gas.

Additionally, large industrial enterprises that consume significant volumes of natural gas will be required to transition exclusively to the free gas market starting from the new gas year, on October 1, 2025.

The mandatory natural gas storage mechanism will be adjusted to 15% of the average annual consumption.

Until the end of this heating season, the 15% gas storage requirement has been fulfilled by the state-owned enterprise SA "Energocom." Over the past 3.5 years, the free market share has significantly increased, reaching approximately 10% in 2024, with 10 active suppliers in the free market. Under the new mechanism, each supplier will be required to maintain storage reserves of 15% in proportion to their market share. Meanwhile, SA "Energocom" will continue to hold strategic gas reserves covering 10 days of winter consumption.

The amendments also propose a mechanism allowing the Government to designate the entity responsible for supplying natural gas to the Transnistrian region, including the formation of a 15% gas reserve to cover consumption for protected consumers of vital importance—households and organizations providing essential social services.

Furthermore, the document stipulates that system operators responsible for gas transportation and distribution must maintain a digital map of the gas networks. This measure will enhance transparency in the natural gas sector, facilitate urban planning, and improve response times in emergency situations. Digital maps will also support the implementation of the concept for managing third-party-owned and ownerless gas networks.

Another proposed measure introduces a mechanism to unlock the development of gasification projects in local communities. It will allow local public authorities and/or applicants to contribute financially to the construction of interurban and interrural gas networks, including cases where financing opportunities are available from development partners.

The law will also be supplemented with provisions from REMIT—EU Regulation 1227/2011 on the integrity and transparency of the wholesale energy market. This will help develop a competitive natural gas market by providing ANRE with tools to combat market manipulation.

Provisions from Law No. 592/1995 on transportation via main pipelines that conflict with the European acquis will be repealed.

The draft law is available on the particip.gov.md website and can be accessed directly at https://shorturl.at/eRqiL.

Proposals on the draft law can be submitted until March 12, 2025.