Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban has called on residents to join a protest outside Moldova’s National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) on Monday, September 28, opposing planned increases in natural gas and heating tariffs.
The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Ceban said he would attend the protest himself, describing his participation as an expression of solidarity with citizens and their concerns.
The mayor said the protest would be held without party symbols. He added that members of his team, as well as other citizens, were expected to gather outside ANRE.
“We are against the decisions that ANRE, together with the PAS, are going to make regarding the price increases they want to impose on us. And I believe this is what every politician, regardless of political color, should do. This is not a political protest, but a protest to defend the interests of people, who have already reached their limit,” Ceban said.
ANRE is scheduled to hold a public meeting on September 28 to consider draft decisions on regulated natural gas prices and tariffs for thermal energy. The proposals were published by the regulator on September 24 following applications submitted by energy suppliers.
According to the published draft decisions, ANRE is considering requests from Energocom concerning regulated natural gas prices, as well as tariff adjustments submitted by Termoelectrica, CET-Nord and several heat suppliers.
Recent estimates based on ANRE’s draft decisions indicate that the household natural gas tariff could rise to around 26.14 lei per cubic metre, while the proposed heat tariff supplied by Termoelectrica could reach 3,277 lei per gigacalorie. These figures remain subject to the regulator’s final decisions.
The government has previously commented on opposition protests over rising energy costs, saying that citizens have the right to demonstrate. At the same time, officials have attributed increases in natural gas and heating tariffs to developments in international energy markets.
The planned ANRE meeting comes as Moldova prepares for the cold season and amid broader concerns over energy security. Parliament recently approved a 60-day state of emergency focused on energy and water supply security, due to take effect on September 26.