Moldova bought the first gas from Ukraine, at a lower price than on the spot market. Tofan: "The mechanism worked"

The Republic of Moldova has purchased two million cubic meters of natural gas from Ukraine, at a price lower than the spot market price. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan announced that the mechanism was successfully tested, and the authorities intend to purchase larger volumes to reduce purchase costs and, possibly, tariffs for consumers. The statements were made on Thursday, October 29, on the sidelines of the "Construim Moldova" event.

According to the prime minister, the Energocom company was connected to the Ukrainian gas exchange in a short time, which allowed the purchase of fuel directly from the local market.

"These are small volumes, 2,000,000 cubic meters, but we wanted to test the mechanism, that we can purchase gas from Ukraine cheaper and we can exit the contracts we already have. The mechanism worked. We made money for Energocom," said Vasile Tofan, broadcasts TVR Moldova.

According to Vasile Tofan, Ukraine has the state-owned company Naftogaz, the country's largest gas producer, but also several private companies. The latter have been granted the right to export up to 15% of their own production, given that they have accumulated relatively large reserves.

The export permit is valid until November 30, and starting December 1, private companies will no longer be able to export gas until March, the prime minister explained. For this reason, the authorities are trying to accelerate negotiations and contract additional volumes.

"It is important for us to move quickly now and secure gas volumes at lower prices than those we have contracted under the FTT," said Vasile Tofan.

The Prime Minister claims that the authorities are analyzing the possibility of increasing purchases from the Ukrainian market. If larger volumes of gas are identified at advantageous prices, the savings could create the prerequisites for reducing tariffs.

Starting October 1, household consumers will pay 26,14 lei for a cubic meter of natural gas, including VAT, compared to 20,30 lei previously. The increase is 5,84 lei for each cubic meter, or almost 29%.

For 2026, the total amount allocated to energy compensation is estimated at 550 million lei.

At the same time, on October 27, Tofan announced that Moldova will start buying gas extracted by Romania from the Black Sea, through the Neptun Deep project, starting in the fall of 2027. According to the prime minister, the shorter transportation distance will allow for cost reductions.

Currently, household consumers pay 26,14 lei for a cubic meter of natural gas, including VAT, compared to 20,30 lei previously. The increase is approximately 29%.

For 2026, the amount planned for energy compensation is estimated at 550 million lei.

At the same time, on October 27, Tofan announced that Moldova will begin buying, from the fall of 2027, gas extracted by Romania from the Black Sea, through the Neptun Deep project. According to the prime minister, the shorter transportation distance will allow for cost reduction.

Currently, household consumers pay 26,14 lei for a cubic meter of natural gas, including VAT, compared to 20,30 lei previously. The increase is approximately 29%.

For 2026, the amount planned for energy compensation is estimated at 550 million lei.