Moldova’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Eugeniu Osmochescu, is urging citizens to pay closer attention to their energy consumption this winter, warning that the upcoming cold season could be difficult.
The minister said households can reduce gas consumption through simple measures, including lowering indoor temperatures at night. Osmochescu said that while living abroad, he had experienced temperatures as low as 14 degrees Celsius at home.
“Having lived abroad for a very long time, I have not seen anywhere in the world, even in countries that had and still have access to cheaper gas, such an irresponsible attitude during the winter, when you can afford to have a thermostat in your apartment and set it to 18 degrees at night, for example, or 16 degrees. I have lived at 14 degrees abroad as well. It starts with each of us. Unfortunately, you don’t always see that,” Eugeniu Osmochescu said during the “La 360 de grade” programme on Radio Moldova.
During the same programme, the minister also commented on government compensation for household energy bills. He questioned why people who can afford to pay their bills themselves would apply for financial assistance from the state.
“For example, I have never understood people who can afford to pay their bills but still receive assistance from the state. I really don’t understand. They are hypocrites. I really don’t understand this,” the minister said.
For the 2026–2027 cold season, applications for the government’s “Ajutor la contor” energy support programme will open on November 2. Authorities estimate that at least 620,000 households will receive assistance for five months.
The programme was initially allocated 550 million lei. However, rising gas tariffs have prompted the authorities to begin negotiations with international partners for grants or loans. The necessary funding is expected to be secured through a budget revision, with the programme’s allocation potentially reaching 3.2 billion lei.
Household gas costs have increased significantly in recent months. The price was 14.42 lei per cubic metre in August, rose to 20.30 lei in September and reached 26.14 lei per cubic metre in October.