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Economy
24 February, 2026 / 20:44
/ 4 hours ago

Energocom company of Moldova uses commercial natural gas stocks to cover peak consumption during cold season

The Energocom company has used almost all of the commercial natural gas stocks built up under the legal storage obligation, thus ensuring coverage of peak consumption and supply stability on the right bank of Moldova during the 2025–2026 cold season.

According to data presented by Energocom, the entity used about 134 million m³ of natural gas to manage periods of high consumption during the winter months. These volumes come from the commercial stocks accumulated by 1 November 2025, in line with the storage obligation of at least 15 per cent of the country’s annual consumption.

At the beginning of the cold season, Energocom had more than 100 million m³ of gas stored in Ukraine, while over 30 million m³ were stored in facilities in other states through agent-type contracts. “Between November 2025 and 18 February 2026, these stocks were used gradually, with around 8 million m³ remaining in storage,” Energocom announced.

The Energocom’s acting general director, Eugeniu Buzatu, said that efficient management of gas stocks had been a key element in getting through the cold season safely and without interruptions.

“The use of commercial stocks allowed us to cover peak consumption and avoid additional pressure on the market during critical periods, such as January, this year, when there were low temperatures and high gas consumption. At the same time, maintaining security stocks guarantees that Moldova has strategic reserves in the event of emergency situations,” said Eugeniu Buzatu.

Under the legal framework, the storage obligation applies to all natural gas suppliers, in proportion to their market share, and is meant to ensure flexibility and security during periods of high consumption or market volatility.

In Moldova, there are two categories of natural gas stocks. Strategic stocks, amounting to 15 per cent of average annual consumption, are meant for use during the cold period. Security stocks represent the equivalent of 10 days of consumption in the winter season, with a total volume of 50,000 thousand cubic metres. They can be used only in emergency situations.