Studies

This study underscores the strategic potential of the reopened Trans-Balkan Pipeline (TBP) as a vital north-south corridor for delivering LNG, Caspian gas, and hub-based volumes into Ukraine, Moldova, and beyond.

However, cross-border capacity remains underused due to several key barriers:

• high transport costs (up to €10/MWh on multi-border routes),
• regulatory unpredictability and tariff volatility (especially in Moldova and Romania),
• lack of firm capacity at critical points such as Isaccea–Orlivka, and fragmented access rules with uncoordinated booking.

The study estimates the number of energy poor households, analyses the legal frameworks for the protection of vulnerable and energy poor consumers and investigates the main drivers and causes of energy poverty in the Contracting Parties. Efforts to address energy poverty are part of the Just Transition initiative to ensure that the move away from fossil fuels in the Contracting Parties is socially just, in the interest of women, workers and entire communities. The study found that while all Contracting Parties have definitions of vulnerable customers, that definition is closely related to the social (income) and health status. Other aspects and drivers of energy poverty, such as the energy efficiency of homes, gender and energy needs, are not considered. This means that not all energy poor households are getting the support they need.