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Moldova has declared a 30-day energy alert following a fuel shortage that Prime Minister Vasile Tofan attributed to Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port of Novorossiysk and navigation hurdles on the Danube caused by low water levels. The announcement came after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, as reported by TASS.
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TASS reported that Prime Minister Tofan described a series of supply chain disruptions that created a challenging situation, particularly for diesel fuel. He said the destruction of several terminals in Novorossiysk restricted oil exports from Kazakhstan, which serves as the primary feedstock for the Petromidia refinery in Romania, the largest producer of diesel for Romania and the region. According to Tofan, about 80% of Kazakh oil exports flow through Novorossiysk.
Moldova imports significant volumes of diesel via the Danube, but dropping water levels have stranded several fuel vessels, disrupting scheduled deliveries and compounding supply strains, TASS reported.
In a separate report, TASS cited Romanian economist Adrian Negrescu warning that Romania risks facing a severe crisis in its fuel market after Kazakhstan suspended oil supplies due to drone attacks on tankers in the Black Sea. Negrescu said Romania, which accounts for 63% of imports from Kazakhstan, faces an unprecedented crisis after crude oil supplies via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system to the Novorossiysk terminal were cut off.
Key claims
- Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said Ukrainian strikes on Novorossiysk and low Danube water levels triggered a fuel shortage, as reported by TASS.
- Tofan said approximately 80% of Kazakh oil exports flow through Novorossiysk, and it serves as the primary feedstock for the Petromidia refinery in Romania.
- Moldova imports significant volumes of diesel via the Danube, but low water levels have stranded several fuel vessels, disrupting deliveries, according to Tofan.
- The Farmers' Power association warned that the fuel shortage had persisted for five to seven days and threatened to disrupt the ongoing harvest, TASS reported.
- Government data indicates that roughly 10% of filling stations have run out of diesel, but a TASS correspondent reports that the situation remains calm at retail gas stations, with no signs of queuing.
- Romanian economist Adrian Negrescu warned that Romania risks a severe crisis in its fuel market after Kazakhstan, which accounts for 63% of imports, cut off oil supplies, as reported by TASS.
- According to TASS, citing Bloomberg, Kazakhstan suspended oil pumping to the CPC marine terminal in Novorossiysk following a series of attacks on tankers in the Black Sea.
- As of 2025, Romania covered approximately 77% of its oil needs through imports, with about 63% of those imports coming from Kazakhstan, Negrescu noted.
- In recent days, drone attacks have occurred near the CPC marine terminal. On July 19, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry stated that strikes on tankers carrying CPC oil constituted an unacceptable infringement on Kazakhstan's economic interests, and did not rule out demanding compensation.
- Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the Kiev Nazi regime was behind the attack, calling it the fifth act of aggression against the company's civilian facility.