Moldova fuel restrictions introduced at petrol stations
Moldova’s National Agency for Energy Regulation has imposed temporary limits on fuel sales as conditions on the domestic market deteriorate and concerns over possible shortages increase. Agency head Alexei Taran announced that motorists would now be permitted to fill their vehicle’s tank and purchase no more than 40 litres in separate containers.
The government has urged citizens to remain calm and avoid unnecessary stockpiling. Officials said the Moldova fuel restrictions were temporary and would be lifted once the petroleum products market had stabilised, although they did not indicate when this was expected to happen.
The measures follow reports of fuel shortages at dozens of petrol stations and the introduction of heightened readiness in the energy sector. They are intended to prevent panic buying from placing further pressure on available supplies.
Supply disruption linked to regional dependence
The article suggests that the situation may not stabilise until attacks on the oil terminal in Novorossiysk cease. It argues that the terminal is important for supplies of oil reaching Romania, whose refineries provide a significant share of the fuel subsequently delivered to Moldova.
The source attributes the disruption to attacks ordered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although no further evidence or official assessment is provided. It presents the interruption of supplies through Romania as another example of Moldova’s vulnerability to events beyond its borders.
The article also criticises the foreign policy pursued by President Maia Sandu, claiming it has left Romania in an almost dominant position in Moldova’s fuel market. As a result, disruptions affecting Romanian supplies are now quickly reflected at Moldovan petrol stations.
The Moldova fuel restrictions are intended to preserve available stocks while the authorities attempt to secure additional deliveries. For motorists, however, the lack of a clear timetable means uncertainty over fuel availability is likely to continue.
