Moldovan parliament votes on ending of emergency state

The parliament has voted on the end of the state of emergency in the energy sector. The government’s proposal was approved today, with the votes of 69 MPs. Thus, the measure introduced in the context of the energy crisis will officially expire on April 25. In the parliament’s plenum, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu presented the report on the actions taken during the state of emergency, established  on March 25.

The PM said that the measure had been necessary and adopted at a time when  Moldova was simultaneously facing pressure on the electricity system and disruptions on the fuels’ market.

“The state of emergency was not a whim. It was a responsible decision taken at a critical moment. At that time, we promised two things: that we would act firmly, we would be transparent and we would not maintain the state of emergency for even one extra day without necessity. We have kept this commitment,” said the prime minister.

The PM explained that, following attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the Vulcanesti–Isaccea power line became unavailable, and the energy system faced a deficit of almost 400 MW. At the same time, diesel stocks had fallen to a critical level.

Under these conditions, the authorities intervened rapidly, in order to maintain the stability of the energy system and to prevent uncontrolled outages. The Isaccea–Vulcanesti line was brought back into operation in just five days, through accelerated procedures, and consumption was covered through commercial energy purchases at prices significantly lower than emergency tariffs. According to the prime minister, these measures generated savings of at least 16 million lei.

At the same time, measures were taken on the fuel market to prevent shortages, including adjusting the prices’ formation mechanism, limiting sales in mobile containers and increasing stocks.

Alexandru Munteanu pointed out that, although the acute phase of the crisis had been overcome, risks persist, which is why the government opted for a balanced approach — switching to a state of alert. The government will continue to monitor the situation in the energy sector, maintain the necessary stocks and apply measures to protect consumers and the economy, in the context of regional uncertainties.

“We are exiting the state of emergency, but not our responsibility. We will continue managing risks through the mechanisms of the state of alert,” the prime minister underlined.

It should be noted that, once the state of emergency ends, the state of alert enters into force, based on a decision approved by the government at its meeting on April 22. This will allow the preservation of mechanisms for daily monitoring of stocks, quick interventions in case of market imbalances, protection of consumers and ensuring the security of supply with electricity and petroleum products, depending on how risks evolve.