Moldova’s energy sector relies heavily on imports of electricity and natural gas. The country has almost no baseload generation capacity capable of year-round operations following the expiration of the Ukrainian gas transit agreement on December 31, 2024, and the subsequent termination of electricity purchases from the Curciurgan power plant in the separatist region of Transnistria, which had historically provided up to 80 percent of Moldova’s electricity demand. Accordingly, Moldova currently imports electricity from Romania and Ukraine but is taking measures to ensure its energy independence, achieve full integration with the European energy market, and bolster its strategic reserves of natural gas. The country has ramped up capacity of renewable power plants from 580 MW at the end of 2024 to 784 MW as of July 2025 but relies almost entirely on the Ukrainian grid for balancing services. State-owned enterprise Energocom, the country’s electricity and gas trader, actively facilitated the purchase of gas and electricity from non-Russian markets starting in 2022. Moldova’s relatively flat terrain and shared rivers on the Ukrainian and Romanian borders complicates plans to add hydropower to Moldova’s energy mix, with Moldova currently sharing just one 16MW hydropower plant with Romania at Stanca Costesti.
Moldova has committed to implement reforms embedded within the European Union’s Third Energy Package, a suite of legislation adopted in 2009 aimed at creating integrated and competitive energy markets for natural gas and electricity. As part of the reforms, Moldova restructured and partially privatized its electricity distribution network, including Premier Energy, a private company that controls 70 percent of the country’s electric distribution grid. The government plans to privatize the remaining state-owned electric distribution companies, RED Nord S.A., and the electric power supply company, FEE Nord S.A.
Moldova and Romania are cooperating to build transmission lines, which will enable Moldova to further physically connect with the Romanian grid and provide access to Romanian and, by extension, other European electricity markets. In September 2025, the U.S. approved USD 130 million in funding for a new high-voltage interconnector between Moldova and Romania. The project will create significant opportunities for U.S. firms to supply U.S. technologies in multiple sectors, including transmission infrastructure, grid optimization technologies, information and communication technologies (ICT), nuclear power, and battery storage.
In concert with Ukraine, Moldova connected synchronously to the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) on March 16, 2022.
Moldova made progress toward unbundling Moldovagaz, the vertically integrated natural gas monopoly, to comply with Third Energy Package requirements. Romania’s Transgaz completed the Ungheni-Chisinau Pipeline in 2021 and took over the operation of the entire gas transmission network in September 2023. This allowed further diversification of Moldova’s gas supply. Energocom purchased the first gas supplies from alternative sources in October 2021. Moldova no longer relies on Gazprom supplies.
The government changed legislation to enable commercial natural gas trade via “reverse flow” (both physical and virtual) through the Trans-Balkan pipeline on Moldovan territory, which could also position the country as a transit hub.
Leading Sub-Sectors
Energy efficiency; gas and electricity trade; gas storage; electricity generation; renewable energy - wind energy, solar energy, and biofuels; gas turbines and internal combustion engines for power plants; and battery energy storage systems (BESS) .
Opportunities
Energy security is a priority for Moldova. International financial institutions, including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) finance many projects strengthening Moldova’s energy security. Further infrastructure investment and upgrades will be required for greater connectivity between Moldova and Romania. There is also potential for support from the DFC.
Full implementation of the Third Energy Package in the gas sector provides opportunities for natural gas supply and trade from alternative sources. Rising energy prices and Moldova’s efforts to diversify its gas and electricity sources provide an opportunity for traders to supply energy from alternative sources.
Plans for modernization of the municipal district heating systems provide opportunities for supply of gas turbine engines, internal combustion engines and pipes.
Resources
National Agency for Energy Regulation
Trade Shows at Moldexpo (http://moldexpo.md/en/))