The state energy company from the Republic of Moldova, Energocom, is using the liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase system from the USA for the first time, Reuters reports.

The Republic of Moldova was almost exclusively dependent on gas from Russia, according to the contract with Gazprom, but accelerated efforts to diversify supply sources after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Energocom will buy LNG from the Alexandroupolis floating terminal, in cooperation with the Greek state company DEPA Commercial, the company from the Republic of Moldova informed in a statement.

“On Monday and Tuesday we will purchase 14,000 MWh of natural gas each from the port of Alexandroupolis. In total there will be approximately 28,000 MWh, the equivalent of 2.6 million cubic meters of gas,” said Victor Binzar, director of Energocom, according to Agerpres.

The company has already tested the import route from Greece, buying reduced quantities of gas in 2023.

Currently, the Republic of Moldova does not buy gas from Russia, but the separatist region of Transnistria is dependent on Russian gas. The total amount of gas required annually is estimated at approximately three million cubic meters.