The Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Junghietu, discusses with Carlyle Group the acquisition of Lukoil’s assets and the strengthening of strategic investments in the energy sector

The Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, held a meeting in Washington with representatives of the investment fund Carlyle Group, which is set to acquire Lukoil’s assets in the Republic of Moldova.

During the discussions, the official reaffirmed the Government’s support for this transaction and welcomed the investor’s intention to fully take over operations in the region through a specialized entity. At the same time, the minister emphasized the need to monitor the approval process by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Carlyle Group manages more than $400 billion in assets globally and holds significant investments in its portfolio, including in the oil and gas sector in Europe.

Energy Projects Supported by the World Bank

During the visit, Dorin Junghietu also held discussions with representatives of the World Bank Group, focusing on the status and challenges of energy projects financed in the Republic of Moldova. These include the Vulcănești–Chișinău power transmission line, the construction of high-efficiency cogeneration capacities based on gas-fired internal combustion engines with a capacity of 55 MW, as well as identifying financing solutions for a new gas-fired cogeneration plant with an electric capacity of 250 MW and a thermal capacity of 180 MW.

The Importance of Investments for Energy Security

The Minister of Energy highlighted the strategic role of these investments in strengthening the country’s energy security. Representatives of the World Bank reaffirmed their support in identifying the most efficient and affordable options for implementing the projects, according to the statement issued by the Ministry of Energy.