The Republic of Moldova is taking a significant step towards its energy security and integration into the regional market by signing a long-term contract between state-owned Energocom and OMV Petrom, a regional leader in the natural gas industry. The agreement covers the import of gas from the Neptun Deep offshore field, the most ambitious gas exploration project in the Black Sea and the first deep offshore gas project in Romania.
Under the deal, deliveries will start as soon as the Neptun Deep project becomes operational – expected in 2027 – and will be carried out through the virtual trading point (VTP) in Romania, with the final destination in Moldova. The three-year contract will contribute to the consolidation of an independent and stable long-term energy infrastructure.
“After Russia cut gas deliveries to Moldova in 2021, Energocom has shown that it can bring liquefied natural gas even from overseas, and is now securing deliveries from the largest offshore project in the Black Sea that is due to start extraction in the near future. With this long-term contract, we will contribute to the diversification of supply sources and thus to the country’s energy security,” said Dorin Junghietu, Energy Minister of the Republic of Moldova.
For the Romanian side, Minister Sebastian Burduja underlined the geostrategic importance of the agreement: “The resources in the Black Sea are a strategic advantage for us and a responsibility towards our neighbours and brothers. Romania not only promises, but delivers – resources, security and trust. We help Moldova with gas, with stability, with predictability and with a shared vision.”
Redefining the balance of power
The signed contract marks not only Moldova’s direct access to strategic energy resources in the EU, but also a redefinition of the balance of power in the national energy sector. By 2024, Energocom covered more than 83% of domestic gas consumption, and the new collaboration with OMV Petrom paves the way for consolidating this role in a regional context marked by instability and geopolitical reshuffles.
At the same time, the energy scene in Chisinau is witnessing another major transformation: the weakening position of Moldovagaz, a company majority controlled by Gazprom. In the context of the implementation of the EU’s Third Energy Package, ANRE has accelerated the deadline for unbundling Moldovagaz’s activities, setting a deadline of 1 August 2025. Until then, the company must transfer its transmission assets – currently managed by Vestmoldtransgaz – and split its procurement, transmission and supply activities, under penalty of losing its licence.
“If they fail, they will lose their licence,” warned Dorin Junghietu. He said that ANRE is already prepared for the scenario in which another supplier will be appointed: “By 1 August, ANRE will most likely appoint another company from among those that participated in the competition. If a new supplier is appointed, it will sign a contract with Moldovagaz for a transitional period.”
Former energy minister in Chisinau Victor Parlicov expressed his belief that Moldovagaz “will lose its licence”, adding that the energy status quo that has allowed decades of Gazprom’s influence is about to end. “Gazprom broke this fragile balance and unilaterally refused to supply gas to Transnistria. From that moment, it no longer makes sense to keep Moldovagaz as the main supplier.”
In this new context, Energocom is emerging as a natural candidate for the role of main supplier to the Republic of Moldova. Alexandru Slusari, member of the company’s Board of Directors, confirmed that Energocom has already submitted an application for participation in the tender launched by ANRE. The transition scenario foresees the temporary appointment of a supplier until the organisation of a definitive tender, with the complete transfer of the database and billing staff to the new operator.
The signing of the contract between Energocom and OMV Petrom is not a simple commercial event. It is a strategic move through which the Republic of Moldova asserts its energy autonomy, Romania assumes its role as a security provider in the region, and Gazprom’s influence becomes irrelevant in a landscape increasingly integrated into the values and rules of the European market.