(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. Moldova sees
Azerbaijan among priority sources to cover its gas needs, Deputy
Prime Minister, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional
Development, Moldova Andrei Spinu said in an exclusive interview
with trend .
“Moldova is consuming ca. 3 bcm of gas per year. It is not a big
number, but when you compare it with population of Moldova (2,5
million) it is substantial. Even with such a not huge amount of gas
we should introduce and keep diversification rules. That is why
Moldovan plan is to establish long term supply relations with three
or even four different suppliers. We cannot afford anymore to be
under full dependency of one supplier as it was for last decades,
and which resulted in various problems with supplies since 2021.
That is why when we plan our future structure of supplies, we are
focusing on receiving about 30-40 percent of our gas needs from
each single supplier. And one of them would be of course
Azerbaijan,” said the deputy PM.
Infrastructure to get access to Azerbaijani
gas
Spinu pointed out that the infrastructure is already in place
and the same with regulations.
“I want to underline that it was Moldovan state-controlled
company ENERGOCOM JSC which for the first time in history made the
Trans Balkan gas pipeline working towards opposite direction – from
south to north. For the whole December of 2022 ENERGOCOM Branch in
Romania has bought at Virtual Trading Point on Trans Adriatic
Pipeline ca. 130 mcm of natural gas, and then shipped via
Interconnector Greece – Bulgaria, Bulgarian gas network to Trans
Balkan gas pipeline and then further to the north via Romania gas
network to Moldova and even to Ukrainian Gas Storages,” he
explained.
The minister pointed out that it was Moldovan Company which
proves for the first time in history that supplying gas from South
East Europe through East Balkans to the north – to Moldova, Ukraine
and even to Central Europe is not only possible but also profitable
and feasible.
“So that also proves that the gas network system in the East
Balkans is already ready for receiving gas from Azerbaijan - as
soon as it reaches the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, it can be
transported to the north. The route is ready and open also for
Azerbaijani gas,” added Spinu.
Talking about the meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory
Council, he noted that Moldova government delegation to the meeting
was focused on promoting long term partnership relationships with
countries involved in the Corridor.
“Dramatic situation on energy market in 2022 and on, makes us
all in Europe aware of how important is diversification of routes
and origins of sources of energy supplies. For many years Europe
was focused on supplying energy from two, sometimes three
hydrocarbon-rich countries. But last year showed that still the
situation is not safe enough. Last year showed how sensitive and
vulnerable energy market in Europe is. Europe has to do his
homework and increase cooperation with other major energy players.
Caspian and Black Sea Region countries are the closest, but for
many years were underestimated. Now it is changing very rapidly.
That is why in our opinion we should put much more of our efforts
and activity towards Caspian Region to establish finally long-term
partnership with countries like Azerbaijan or Türkiye which are not
only reliable partners but are also able to contribute to restore
stability on energy market. Only partnership relations between
countries can create a stable and secure conditions for growing of
our economies,” added the minister.
Andrei Spinu noted that the role of SGC is crucial for Europe,
and especially for South and South Eastern part of Europe.
“After 2022 we are all pretty aware that there is immediate
necessity to bring to European market one more direction of
supplies. Apart of LNG, Norwegian and North African direction there
should be one more hydrocarbons stream from South East. That is why
Azerbaijan with its enormous production and Türkiye with its key
role in transportation of hydrocarbons by pipelines but also by oil
and LNG vessels, should become new important energy partners for
Europe,” he noted.
Cooperation in renewable energy sphere
He recalled that on December 17, 2022, was signed the Agreement
on the Strategic Partnership for the development and transport of
green energy between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Romania and Hungary, which foresees the realization of the
submarine cable project (through the Black Sea) for the transport
of electricity, with a capacity of about 1000 MW.
“Thus, it is an opportunity for the Republic of Moldova to
initiate discussions regarding accessing the transport capacities
that will be available following the implementation of this
project, in order to facilitate the agreement of long-term
contracts regarding the purchase of electricity produced from
renewable sources, at competitive prices and its transport to the
Republic of Moldova, to diversify sources and increase the security
of the country's energy supply. To increase local production,
diversify the sources of electricity supply and to reduce
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in the energy sector, Republic of
Moldova needs more investments in new renewable energy sources and
in additional other components in order to contribute to the
stability and flexibility of the power system. Which creates more
opportunities for foreign investors, including private investors
from Azerbaijan,” added Anrei Spinu.
In this context, he pointed out that by Government Decision no.
401/2021, the Republic of Moldova has already committed to support
the construction of 410 MW of new RES capacities, focusing on wind,
solar and non-variable RES (biomass, biogas and small hydropower
plants), but, since the Republic of Moldova does not have other
sources primary energy, the additional development of RES will be
analyzed.
“The Government of the Republic of Moldova will make efforts to
stimulate investments in RES by organizing auctions as soon as
possible, and the income of RES producers will increase with the
help of the income from the guarantees of origin. Emphasis will be
placed on accelerating the planning and authorization phases of the
SRE facility to remedy historical bottlenecks that are already
visible, and all these activities should be carried out in parallel
with the implementation of the legislative requirements of the
European Union,” Spinu concluded.
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