Moldova welcomes the decision of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to begin supplying Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, particularly in light of the first gas supply agreement signed between Ukraine’s Naftogaz and SOCAR Energy Ukraine, Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, told Report's Eastern European Bureau.
The minister recalled that Moldova was the first country to test the viability of the Vertical Gas Corridor. Moldova was the first to commercially use the Greece–Bulgaria interconnector and successfully tested reverse flow via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
“We have proven both technically and economically that it is possible to deliver gas from Greece to storage facilities in Ukraine. These pilot gas deliveries provided clear evidence in favor of an alternative business model, previously available only under the dominant model of the Russian company Gazprom. At the same time, the possibility of using transit infrastructure to store gas in Ukraine is becoming increasingly attractive and accessible,” Junghietu emphasized.
He noted that today’s gas deliveries from Azerbaijan mark a new phase in the regional countries’ efforts to diversify supply sources and routes, as well as strengthen energy security.
He also highlighted that in May this year, Moldova, together with four other countries along the Vertical Corridor route, launched a “new regional gas transport product” that enables gas delivery from Greece to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan route.
“This product made it possible to transport natural gas at a discount of at least 25% from June to October 2025. This model ensured more efficient use of existing infrastructure and access to cheaper gas in the region, including for Moldova,” the minister said.
As reported, Ukraine’s Naftogaz Group signed its first agreement with SOCAR Energy Ukraine, a subsidiary of SOCAR, on July 28, 2025, for the purchase of Azerbaijani natural gas. This agreement marks the first test delivery of Azerbaijani gas via the Trans-Balkan route through the Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine corridor.
The Vertical Gas Corridor initiative is aimed at ensuring energy security and uninterrupted supply, as well as access to diverse, diversified sources of natural gas for Bulgaria and other countries in Southeastern Europe. The Vertical Corridor includes gas pipelines in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and other countries.
The Trans-Balkan pipeline is a major pipeline that passes through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye.