Moldovan premier, EU official tackle energy issues

Chisinau, 27 February /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici today met European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels. They discussed the measures taken by the Moldovan authorities to diversify the energy resources and to connect to the EU energy market, the government's communication and media relations departtment has reported.

Gaburici said the integration into the EU energy market continued to be one of the main goals promoted by the government. 

The high-ranking officials approached the development of EU energy interconnection, especially, ensuring continuity of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline project, requiring additional efforts so that to make possible diversification of the country's energy market. Gaburici reiterated the need to extend the gas pipeline to Chisinau in order to turn to good account the full capacity of pipeline beginning with 2017. Also, the premier firmly backed the creation of a high-ranking working group on interconnecting gas pipelines in the central and southeast Europe. He expressed interest in identifying opportunities to involve Moldova in the target group activity. 

As regards consolidation of electricity infrastructure, Gaburici noted that the government considered the possibility to connect Moldova to the EU market through Romania. Thus, as soon as possible, a memorandum is scheduled to be signed with the Romanian side, confirming the interconnection priorities both for gas and electricity networks. The memorandum will be a confirmation for fulfilling the commitments.

For his part, Maroš Šefčovič said that this week, the European Commission launched a strategy on creation of European Energy Union, which was not limited to the EU borders, but provided for a closer collaboration with the countries of energy community. Thus, the European infrastructure will reach Moldova as well. At the same time, the official pointed out that the document approved in Sofia on 9 February opened the way for Moldova to participate in this process. 

At the end, the premier invited the official to pay a visit to Moldova in order to attend the event giving start for supplying gas to consumers through the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline.

The premier was on an official visit to Brussels. He held meetings with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of European Parliament Martin Schulz, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of European Commission Federica Mogherini and other officials. This was the first official visit paid by Gaburici abroad in his tenure of prime minister.