Since January, energy prices in the Republic of Moldova have risen sharply as the country faces another energy crisis triggered by Russia. Until the end of 2024, Moldova purchased most of its electricity from a gas-powered plant in the unrecognised territory of Transnistria. Following the expiration of the gas transit contracts through Ukraine, Russia failed to meet its supply obligations for the whole of January, causing substantial supply problems for the region and the entire country. Although the crisis was stabilised with the help of the EU, it highlighted the dangers of the high dependency on imported electricity from Transnistria.
To reduce this dependency in the future and improve the country’s energy governance, the Moldovan government is increasingly focussing on renewable energies in a series of new laws. The government aims to increase their share in the country’s energy mix to 40% until 2030, reduce electricity imports from Transnistria and modernise the grid infrastructure.
Yet, according to the author Dr Shushanik Minasyan-Ostermann, not enough attention has been paid to the issue of energy efficiency in the reforms to date. In addition to institutional challenges such as a lack of capacities at the relevant authorities, she primarily identifies infrastructural problems.
The majority of the Moldovan population currently uses natural gas boilers or wood stoves for heating. Moreover, three-quarters of all residential buildings are not isolated. Modernising the heating systems offers the state great potential for energy savings, but also poses social challenges, as the high costs fall disproportionately on poorer households. An effective transition must thus include social mitigation policies alongside energy efficiency measures. Dr Minasyan-Ostermann advocates for a strong and inclusive Moldovan energy governance that engages the rights, perspectives, needs and aspirations of all stakeholders.
The publication was created as a reflection by the author on her impressions of the CAPACITY4EU Exchange Visit to the Republic of Moldova in December 2024.
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