19th Energy Community Gas Forum Wraps Up with Strategic Insights

19th Energy Community Gas Forum Wraps Up with Strategic Insights

Vienna, 17 September 2024 – The 19th Energy Community Gas Forum, held annually and this year on 16-17 September 2024 in Vienna, concluded with crucial insights that will help guide the future of the gas sector in the region.

Hosted by the Energy Community Secretariat and chaired by the European Commission (DG ENER), the event brought together over 140 participants from ministries, regulators, and business communities across the Energy Community’s contracting parties, providing a vital platform for strategic discussions among the gas sector stakeholders.

This year’s Gas Forum focused on two key factors reshaping the gas sector, the shifting of the gas supply from Russian sources and Europe’s drive for decarbonisation.

“Energy security depends on robust national storage and fair transmission tariffs. These reserves are a lifeline during volatile winter months, especially as gas transit shifts away from Russian supplies and explore North-South routes,” said Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community. He praised Moldova, Ukraine, and the region for their winter preparedness and urged solidarity between Moldova and Ukraine during these challenging times.

The Forum applauded Europe’s commitment to decarbonisation through the newly adopted hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package. The Secretariat and the European Commission will assess the integration of the package into the Energy Community acquis, expected to transform the region's gas sector. As Jolanta Navickaite, DG ENER representative, stated: “The hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package presents a transformative opportunity across the European Union and the region. We must focus on converting the associated challenges into opportunities.”

Key Conclusions from the Gas Forum 2024

1. Enhanced Security and Preparedness: The Forum acknowledges the Contracting Parties' efforts in improving gas supply security and winter preparedness for 2024/25, particularly in light of the Ukrainian transit halt. Emphasis is placed on robust national storage, key target achievement, and the adoption of preventive and emergency plans.
2. Solidarity with Ukraine: Moldova's commendable reforms in the Security of Supply package are recognised. Continued solidarity between Ukraine and Moldova is urged to bolster regional energy security. Ukraine is encouraged to further enhance its gas storage levels.
3. Regional Cooperation: The Forum highlights the critical need for Moldova and Ukraine to strengthen their cooperation and unlock the full potential of the Trans-Balkan pipeline. Both countries are urged to implement the feasible solutions set out by the Secretariat’s related study.
4. Support for Moldova: Moldova’s progress through innovative solutions is acknowledged, with Secretariat’s commitment to support the fulfilment of certification conditions and ensure secure and affordable gas. Further gas reforms over the next years are encouraged.
5. Regulatory Frameworks: Progress in improving regulatory frameworks is welcomed. Regulatory authorities are encouraged to design transmission tariffs transparently to optimise the use of gas transport infrastructure, especially with changing flows post-Ukraine transit.
6. Serbia’s Progress: Serbia’s advancements in drafting a modern gas network code and certifying its national TSO are welcomed. Serbia is invited to accelerate the opening of the Interconnector Bulgaria-Serbia and align with Energy Community rules and Storage Regulation.
7. Ukraine’s Market Reform: The reform of Ukraine's Gas TSO is commended. Ukraine is invited to collaborate with the European Commission and the Energy Secretariat on a roadmap to revitalise its gas market.
8. Biomethane Production: The Forum welcomes Ukraine's pilot projects on biomethane and the removal of export restrictions. Continued progress on strategic documents and legislative frameworks is encouraged to support biomethane and clean hydrogen production.
9. Decarbonisation Commitment: Europe’s commitment to decarbonisation, as outlined in the new hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package, is endorsed. The Forum is ready to integrate this package into the Energy Community acquis.
10. Cross-Border Projects: The Forum calls for Contracting Parties to transpose the TEN-E Regulation. The new selection process for Projects of Mutual Interest (PECI) is launched by the European Commission in September this year. Contracting Parties are invited to submit their project proposals. 

Arcadie Vicol, Founder of Natura Gas, the first private enterprise in Moldova who supplies gas to businesses and households, emphasised the forum's added value and the need for the region to further open its markets: “This forum provides an excellent platform for gas stakeholders within the Energy Community to exchange ideas. Thanks to the Secretariat's efforts, Moldovan authorities have begun engaging with free market players. However, much remains to be done to fully liberalise the market in Moldova and the region.”