Moldova has emerged as an important contributor to regional energy security. But further integration with European energy networks remains essential, said Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu at the Natural Resources Summit in Istanbul.
Junghietu emphasized the strategic importance of the vertical gas corridor, noting Moldova’s dependence on neighboring countries for both gas and electricity due to its Soviet-era legacy.
“We have turned challenges into opportunities. Moldova was the first country to commercially use the Greece–Bulgaria interconnector and successfully tested reverse flow on the Trans-Balkan pipeline, importing U.S. liquefied natural gas,” he stated.
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The Minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania:
- With Romania’s Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja, Junghietu highlighted joint projects like the Vulcanesti–Chisinau Energy Independence Line and future interconnections such as Bălți–Suceava and Straseni–Gutinas. He also expressed Moldova’s interest in more favorable gas transit tariffs through Romania to support the Greece–Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine corridor.
- In talks with Turkey’s Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, they focused on renewable energy, efficiency, smart technologies, and expanding electricity trade.
- With Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister Zhecho Stankov, Junghietu discussed operationalizing the 2024 MoU on crisis management and enabling Moldovan access to Bulgarian gas storage and regional markets.
“We need more interconnections with Europe for gas and electricity, and Romania, as our trusted friend, will support us,” concluded Junghietu.