Moldova Rocked by New €1 Billion Energy Scandal Allegation

A major political scandal is erupting in Moldova as the opposition party “Respect Moldova” has accused the government of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme in natural gas procurement, with alleged losses exceeding one billion euros. The accusations surface just as the state-owned company, Energocom, is set to receive a new €400 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to secure energy supplies for the upcoming winter season.

Party leader Veaceslav Burlac has formally appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Information and Security Service (SIS), demanding an immediate investigation. The core of the allegation is that Energocom is purchasing gas for €495 per 1,000 cubic meters, a price over 30% higher than European market rates of €350-€390. This procurement price is being kept secret by the authorities, which Burlac claims is a cover for high-level corruption that forces citizens to pay inflated energy bills.

These claims have revived memories of Moldova’s infamous 2014 “theft of the century,” when $1 billion vanished from three of the country’s banks. The perpetrators were never fully held accountable, and the money was never returned. The opposition is now drawing direct parallels, suggesting a new grand-scale theft is underway under the current administration of the ruling party, PAS.

The allegations are not isolated. Former Energy Minister Victor Parlicov has previously spoken of “colossal corruption” in the energy sector, while economic expert Veaceslav Ioniță claims that official offers for gas at prices 40% cheaper than Energocom’s have been systematically ignored by state institutions. The government, in response, has only stated that the gas price is a commercial secret.

Meanwhile, the government is framing the new €400 million EBRD loan as a vital step towards ensuring national energy security. Energy Minister Dorin Jungietu argued the financing would “strengthen the state’s ability to respond to potential crises and guarantee the continuity of energy supply.” He emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and maintaining economic and social stability, without addressing the cost of the gas or the repayment of the loan.

In a seemingly contradictory development, Moldova’s main energy suppliers have applied to the national regulator to lower electricity tariffs for consumers. However, critics, including Energocom board member Alexandru Slusari, dismiss this as a politically motivated move. Slusari called the planned reduction a “delayed action with a political subtext,” designed to appease voters ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.

This controversy is unfolding as Moldova pivots its energy strategy away from cheaper electricity traditionally supplied by the Moldavskaya GRES power plant in the breakaway region of Transnistria. The country has increasingly integrated with the Romanian energy market, where prices have been rising. Critics argue this strategic shift towards more expensive European energy is unnecessarily burdening the Moldovan economy and its citizens.