Authorities seek ways to make possible fuel price hikes "gradual"
This opinion was expressed by Energy Minister Dorin Jungietu in an in an interview Logos Press.
“This accident has shown what we have said before: energy security is not a one-time solution, but a systemic architecture that is being built step by step,” Dorin Jungietu said.
At the same time, he believes that Moldova is already in a much more stable position today than it was a few years ago. We are synchronized with the European ENTSO-E network, we have access to the Romanian and EU markets, a full-fledged market model is functioning, including the intraday market.
But the physical infrastructure remains a key constraint – and it is this that the country’s authorities are now actively strengthening.
The Balti-Sucava 400 kV and Straseni-Gutinas 400 kV projects are not just transmission lines – they are strategic elements of the country’s new energy geometry. Their realization will significantly increase imported capacity from Romania and the EU; reduce dependence on individual routes and risks of accidents; ensure full integration into the European electricity market; create conditions for the development of renewable generation, exports and energy storage systems.
“The Balti-Sucava line is already in an active implementation phase, with a clear target of completion in 2027. We are working with international partners, including the EBRD and others, to ensure that not only the financing is secured, but also that the schedule is kept on track. With regard to the Straseni Gutinash project, following the closure of USAID, which previously provided funding for the construction of the line, the United States has reaffirmed its financial support for the project. We have allocated $130 million for the works on the Moldovan side of the line, the company that will deal with the project has been identified and a pre-feasibility study is being elaborated, which is expected to be finalized this summer,” the minister said.
He noted that the USA continues to support the consolidation of Moldova’s energy security through a pragmatic investment partnership.
“Just on Monday, I met with the US Ambassador to the European Union, Andrew Puzder, who reiterated the commitment of the United States to develop bilateral cooperation and investment partnerships in this field,” Jungietu told the news agency.
The minister added that the government is taking measures to accelerate these projects. These include simplifying approval and permit procedures; prioritizing projects in national investment plans; attracting additional financing and strengthening institutional coordination among all participants.
“But it is important to understand: in the energy sector, speed cannot come at the expense of reliability. Our task is not just to build faster, but to build correctly so that these lines would serve for decades and ensure real energy independence. And to summarize: the accident showed the vulnerabilities, but also confirmed the correctness of the chosen course. We are already building a system in which such incidents do not lead to a crisis, but remain manageable technical events,” said Dorin Jungietu.
Read the full interview HERE.
