Moldova plans to use Ukraine's underground storage facilities to create gas reserves

Negotiations are underway in Chisinau with Kiev on the creation of gas reserves in underground storage facilities on the territory of Ukraine, as reported by the Moldovan Ministry of Energy.

“The Moldovan side has shown interest in using underground gas storage facilities in Ukraine to form reserves,” the ministry said in a press release following a meeting between Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Jungietu and his Ukrainian counterpart German Khalushchenko in Kyiv.

The talks also covered energy security for both countries, the development of alternative routes for gas and electricity supplies, and the integration of energy markets. The parties noted the need to coordinate their cooperation with the European Union, the ministry said in a statement.

Possible areas of assistance to Ukraine to ensure electricity supplies to Moldovan consumers from the EU countries were also discussed. The parties emphasized the importance of maintaining ENTSO-E limits to enable electricity imports to Ukraine and Moldova from European countries.

Last year, the Moldovan authorities decided to create a strategic reserve of natural gas in the amount of 100 million cubic meters, but then the required reserve volume was reduced to 50 million cubic meters. The Moldovan Ministry of Energy explained this by the need to place the gas reserve on the commercial market.

At the end of 2024, then Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov reported that Moldovan energy companies had pumped more than 200 million cubic meters of natural gas into storage facilities for the winter period. According to him, in accordance with the government's decision, 50 million cubic meters were pumped into gas storage facilities in Ukraine and Romania. The same amount was prepared by the state gas transportation company Energocom in accordance with EU directives. The commercial reserves of Moldovagaz, located in Ukraine, were estimated at 100-120 million cubic meters of gas.