Moldova's Electricity Sector: Between a Renewed Electricity Supply Contract and Old Unresolved Problems

Moldovan consumers will continue to buy electricity from the Transnistrian region and Ukraine, in a proportion of 70% and 30% respectively. This will cover the roughly 80% of domestic electricity consumption needs not met by domestic electricity production. The purchase of electricity in the period January-March 2018 was carried out under more transparent conditions than last year. Red Union Fenosa was once again the only company on the local market that provided details about the conduct of the tender, thus allowing the procurement to be monitored at every stage. At the same time, the Observers Group, made up of the representative of the EU Delegation and the EU Senior Energy Adviser, had broader powers to request information on the progress of the tender, to give its opinion on extensions of deadlines and to take an active part in the opening of bids, which ensured additional transparency and objectivity. The interference of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure was considerably reduced, in contrast to its hyper-active stance in 2017. In the end, the electricity procurement contract for 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019 was awarded once again to the state-controlled enterprise “Energocom SA”.