Moldova energy security: Government waives VAT and customs duties on gas and electricity imports
Natural gas and electricity imports for a project aimed at strengthening Moldova's energy security will be exempt from VAT, excise duties, and customs duties.
The government has approved a measure to exempt imports from certain taxes and duties, which aims to ensure a stable energy supply for all consumers ahead of the 2025-2026 winter.
This exemption is expected to reduce project costs by an estimated 80 million euros from the initial budget of 400 million euros.
The project is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and implemented by Energocom, the company responsible for energy imports.
Energocom previously announced it had already procured around 700 million cubic meters of gas, or over 90% of the forecasted consumption for the 2025-2026 gas year. Most of the acquisitions were made at an indexed price, using TTF front-month (TTFFM) quotes, during 54 auction rounds that saw the participation of 13 companies from Switzerland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Regarding the country's electricity supply, consumption on the right bank during the heating season (October 2025 – April 2026) is estimated at 2.8 billion kWh. Of this, 1.02 billion kWh will be supplied by domestic sources, with the remaining 1.78 billion kWh coming from abroad. The annual procurement procedures are scheduled to be launched by September 30; pre-qualification of participants for the bidding process is currently underway.
This follows a 400 million euro loan from the EBRD that Energocom secured to ensure the country’s energy security. The loan is structured in three tranches of 100 million euros each and includes a revolving credit facility, a type of loan that allows for the reuse of repaid funds. This provides flexibility and continuous access to financial resources up to a set limit over a five-year period.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
