Starting with January 1, 2025, large companies in the Republic of Moldova will be able to purchase natural gas exclusively on the free market, at negotiated prices, and the possibility to conclude supply contracts at regulated tariffs will be available only until the end of this year. This measure is part of a broader reform of the natural gas market in the country, which is aimed at its complete liberalization, IPN reports.
The Ministry of Energy recently published the list of large companies that will have to comply with the new regulations, specifying that they must conclude new contracts on the free market if they do not already have an agreement in place with a universal gas supplier. These measures are intended to support market development and improve the liquidity of the natural gas sector, while aligning it with European regulations.
Medium-sized companies will have a longer period to make the transition: until 2027, they can request to sign contracts for the supply of natural gas under regulated conditions, but only if their suppliers are authorized to supply gas within the universal service.
The natural gas trading platform is managed by BRM EST, a subsidiary of the Romanian Commodities Exchange, which allows final consumers to purchase gas through the Natural Gas Ring within the Bilateral Contracts (OTC) Market. Details on how businesses can purchase gas on the free market can be found on the platform's official website (brmeastenergy.md).
Also, household consumers and public institutions will be able to choose between the regulated market and the free market, the state guaranteeing the continuation of gas supply through universal suppliers, in order to ensure their constant supply.
In parallel, JSC Moldovagaz, which is responsible for supplying gas to household consumers, started to purchase gas on the free market in May this year, in accordance with the process of liberalization of the energy market.
