The public service obligation for JSC "Energocom" has been extended until March 31, 2025, - is the decision approved on Wednesday by the Government. According to the Ministry of Energy, the measure is necessary to ensure the security of electricity supply to Moldovan consumers, IPN reports.

Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said that the prolongation of the public service obligation allows the realization of daily purchases necessary to cover the electricity consumption, including at preferential prices from Romania. This instrument also gives the government the possibility to intervene promptly for urgent electricity purchases in order to prevent exceptional situations that could affect supply.

The decision was taken in the context of the energy vulnerabilities faced by the Republic of Moldova. The MGRES thermoelectric power plant, which supplies about 70% of the energy needs for the right bank of the Dniester, is entirely dependent on gas delivered by Gazprom via Ukraine. At the same time, the uncertainty is heightened by the fact that the current contracts for gas transportation through Ukraine expire on January 1, 2025, which creates risks related to the continuity of deliveries in the future.

The Ministry of Energy notes that JSC "Energocom" has significant expertise in the energy sector, demonstrated in the management of previous crises, such as the November 2022 crisis, when energy exports from Ukraine were suspended and MGRES stopped deliveries to the right bank. With a branch office in Romania and trading licenses for electricity and gas, the company can ensure the purchase of the necessary volumes of energy from alternative sources in situations where MGRES is unable to produce the necessary energy to cover consumption on the right bank.