The Moldovan government has approved the creation of mandatory minimum fuel reserves and restrictions on diesel exports and re-exports to prevent shortages on the domestic market. The measures are part of the national energy sector alert introduced on Tuesday and were adopted as part of the government’s state of alert package, IPN reports.
The Ministry of Energy warned of a growing risk of fuel shortages due to disruptions in regional supply chains, declining commercial fuel stocks, and rising prices on international energy markets.
Under the approved measures, mandatory emergency reserves will be established at the Giurgiulesti International Free Port, consisting of 2,500 tonnes of gasoline and 7,500 tonnes of diesel reserved exclusively for domestic consumption. Fuel importers may also receive temporary relief from certain financial obligations, while diesel exports and re-exports could be restricted to ensure sufficient supplies for the local market.
According to the explanatory note accompanying the decision, global oil markets became increasingly volatile in July because of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The situation disrupted maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, two key routes for global crude oil and petroleum product trade.
Regional fuel supplies have also been affected by attacks on oil infrastructure in the Black Sea basin and the temporary suspension of operations at the Novorossiysk terminal. In addition, the halt of crude oil shipments from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea has created difficulties for Romania’s Petromidia refinery, Moldova’s main fuel supplier.
Another contributing factor is the low water level of the Danube River, which has reduced inland shipping capacity and limited vessel access to the Giurgiulesti International Free Port. As a result, imports are increasingly being redirected to road and rail transport, raising logistics costs and delivery times.
The Ministry of Energy stressed that Moldova remains heavily dependent on imported petroleum products. For August, fuel importers have contracted only about 12,000 tonnes of diesel, representing roughly 17% of the country’s estimated monthly demand of 70,000 tonnes. Officials warn that the shortfall could lead to a severe diesel shortage during the peak agricultural season and the summer period.
The government also noted that commercial diesel stocks have fallen sharply, from the equivalent of 17.6 days of consumption at the end of June to just 6.9 days as of July 24. During the same period, the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) recorded an increasing number of filling stations that had run out of diesel, indicating that the supply risk has entered an operational phase.
The state of alert in Moldova’s energy sector has been declared for an initial period of 30 days.