Preparatory measures for the 2023-2024 heating season and the action plan in case of gas and electricity supply limitations were discussed on Wednesday, September 20, at a meeting of the governmental coordination commission co-chaired by Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Energy Minister Victor Parlicov.

Minister Victor Parlicov presented a report on the fulfillment by enterprises and authorities of the actions stipulated in the Plan of Measures for the 2023-2024 heating season. According to the document, JSC Energocom is the designated institution to make sufficient natural gas reserves for the cold season in order to ensure the energy security of our country.

At the same time, the volume of coal in the state reserves has been 100% replenished, and the procedure for the purchase and replenishment of fuel oil stocks is under way.

Energocom has contracts in force with electricity producers and suppliers from Romania, Ukraine, the contract extension with MGRES is at the negotiation stage. Officials of SA Termoelectrica and SA CET-Nord reported on the execution of current repair works, which are in the process of completion.

Among the measures proposed during the discussions is the identification of a mechanism for price compensation for household consumers, depending on the category of energy vulnerability, for the period from November 2023 to March 2024.

Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov said that for the first time in the history of the Republic of Moldova we are entering the cold season with gas stocks that are sufficient to ensure our consumption including for January.

"We have never been better prepared for the cold season than now. The coming winter will be easier for all consumers than last winter. First of all, we've been stocking up on gas since the summer, because we expect the price to go up in the winter compared to what we have now. We want to give people certainty that during the winter the tariffs will not change. On the basis of these prices a new tariff will be set, I am sure, lower than what we have now."