Moldova’s Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu has warned that the country will “never return to the era of cheap gas,” calling on citizens to adopt more responsible energy consumption habits as Moldova adjusts to a new pricing reality.

Speaking about the country’s energy trajectory, Junghietu said the former gas tariff of four lei per cubic meter had represented “the cost of dependency,” whereas the nearly 30-lei price seen in recent years reflected “the cost of freedom.” He noted that the sharp increases in gas prices coincided with Europe’s efforts to end its reliance on Russian energy supplies following the outbreak of the Ukraine war. During this period, several EU countries paid between €1,200 and €2,000 per thousand cubic meters of gas, he added.

The minister stressed that Moldova had for three decades faced opaque pricing formulas from Gazprom, leaving the country vulnerable to political pressure and the annual risk of having its contract lapse each year on December 31.

Junghietu highlighted that more than 60 percent of Moldova’s imported gas now comes from Romania through transparent and competitive market mechanisms—an important shift that, he said, enhances the country’s long-term energy security.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy published a notice on its official website urging citizens to reduce electricity use during peak hours. The statement emphasized that responsible consumption—especially between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–23:00—would help strengthen national energy security and reduce power supply costs.

“The Ministry of Energy calls on you to act responsibly,” the announcement read. “Every effort by consumers to lower electricity use during peak hours will contribute to enhancing the country’s energy security and reducing the cost of electricity provision.” (ILKHA)