Energy Minister: Moldova Will Not Return to the Russian Gas Model, Tells Transnistria to Build Its Own Reserves

In an interview published September 10, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said Moldova will not revert to its old energy model based on Gazprom-supplied Russian gas and Cuciurgan (MGRES)-generated electricity, telling the Transnistrian authorities to build their own gas reserves rather than rely on subsidised Russian supply. State trader Energocom has contracted most of the gas needed for the 2026-27 heating season, including a new long-term agreement with OMV Petrom drawing on the Neptun Deep Black Sea gas field, and the government plans to consolidate Moldovagaz's twelve Gazprom-controlled regional distribution companies. Junghietu said gas tariffs are rising for the coming heating season and that compensation measures for vulnerable households remain under development.