Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu held high-level discussions with European and Azerbaijani officials on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor, recently held in Baku.
Junghietu met with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov. The talks focused on Moldova’s ongoing efforts to diversify its natural gas supply, enhance energy security, and develop its energy sector, particularly in increasing renewable energy capacity and implementing energy efficiency measures with support from international partners.
Strengthening Ties with the European Union
During his meeting with Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, Minister Junghietu reiterated Moldova’s strong commitment to integrate its energy market into the European Single Market fully. He expressed gratitude to the European Union for its swift and consistent support, especially during the energy crisis triggered by Russia last winter.
“We appreciate the continuous support of the European Union and are confident that, together, we will eliminate our dependence on a single energy supplier and fully integrate Moldova’s energy markets into the European system by 2030. This will significantly boost our country’s economic development,” said Junghietu.
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Commissioner Jørgensen acknowledged Moldova’s progress in meeting EU energy sector conditions and reaffirmed the EU’s proposed financial support of €250 million under the Growth Plan for Moldova.
The officials also welcomed the recent adoption of Moldova’s Action Plan for Strengthening Energy Independence, developed by the Ministry of Energy. The plan outlines measures to increase energy sector resilience and reduce dependency on Russian electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products.
Expanding Cooperation with Azerbaijan
In a separate meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, the parties explored joint economic initiatives and the potential for collaboration on renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan.
Minister Junghietu invited Azerbaijani companies to participate in Moldova’s upcoming tender round for large eligible energy producers.
During talks with Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, Junghietu reiterated Moldova’s interest in diversifying its gas supply sources and strengthening energy ties with Azerbaijan, including potential cooperation with SOCAR for the export of natural gas and petroleum products. He also encouraged Azerbaijani investors to explore opportunities in Moldova’s growing energy market.
The two sides also discussed strategic green energy initiatives, including the Green Energy Corridor, a key regional infrastructure project to transport renewable electricity across the Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania–Hungary axis.
Junghietu emphasized that Moldova is ready to collaborate with Azerbaijani partners to import natural gas and petroleum products, offering a viable alternative to current regional suppliers.