Moldova President awards Transgaz CEO Order of Liberty

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has awarded Ion Sterian, the CEO of Romania’s national natural gas transmission operator Transgaz, the ‘Order of Liberty.’ The decree was signed to mark Moldova’s Independence Day, recognizing Sterian for exceptional service to the state and professionalism in fields vital to the development of the Republic of Moldova.

Sterian’s recognition is linked to Transgaz’s strategic role in Moldova’s energy security. Through its subsidiary Vestmoldtransgaz, Transgaz manages the operation and transport of natural gas in Moldova, facilitating the transition away from Gazprom. This includes the management of the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău pipeline, a 150-kilometer infrastructure project that connects Moldova to the Romanian and European gas markets. This interconnection has become critical for Moldova’s energy stability following unilateral supply reductions by Gazprom in 2022.