Secretariat warns Moldova about the lack of unbundling and certification in its gas sector 

Yesterday, the Secretariat sent a Reasoned Opinion addressing non-compliance with the Energy Community unbundling and certification requirements in the gas sector to Moldova.

In 2021, the Secretariat opened infringement procedures addressing the failure of Moldova to implement the requirements of unbundling and certification of the transmission system operator Moldovatransgaz. Moldovatransgaz is still not unbundled from the vertically integrated gas undertaking Moldovagaz. Yesterday’s Reasoned Opinion is the second step in the infringement procedure. In its Reasoned Opinion, the Secretariat argues that, more than three years after the deadline, Moldovatransgaz has not been unbundled under any of the three available unbundling models and thus cannot be certified as long as the status quo persists.

The deadline for unbundling of the gas transmission system operators (TSOs) in Moldova was 1 January 2020. Moldova’s other gas TSO, Vestmoldtransgaz, was certified by ANRE on 3 September 2021 under the ownership unbundling model following a positive opinion by the Secretariat.

Interested parties may be granted access to the case file and may submit written observations on the present case. All requests for information should be addressed to the Legal Counsel and make reference to the relevant case number (ECS-31/21).