Moldovan economics minister says early 2019 deadline for putting into operation Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline

Chisinau, 4 November /MOLDPRES/ – The gas pipeline Ungheni – Chisinau could be put into operation in early 2019. "This is the deadline which was agreed upon at the level experts, who have to develop an action plan for each stage of the project extending the pipeline from Ungheni to Chisinau", said today in a press conference Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Octavian Calmic.
The minister said that it was one of the key topics discussed at the meeting of the Moldovan-Romanian intergovernmental commission which was held on 3 – 4 November in Chisinau.

"The project is feasible, given the fact that we shortly enter into the design process" which will deal with Transgaz company from Romania. It will collaborate with a Moldovan company that will present some primary information related to our national specific. "The design process will take up to six months. We supposing next autumn to announce the tender procedure for selecting the company that will handle construction of the pipeline," declared Calmic.

"Accordingly, in Romania it is needed to built a pipeline section to have access to natural gas resources necessary to ensure our domestic market need, according to the estimated capacity – from 1,5 billion to 2,2 billion cubic metres, that is the transit capacity through this gas pipeline," said the minister of economy.

"The gas pipeline Ungheni – Chisinau is in an advanced design stage. We have a design plan. We hope that Romanian companies will participate in construction of this pipeline and we hope that it might be ready as soon as possible. Romania today produces more gas than it needs for domestic consumption," said Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Relations with the Business Environment of Romania, Costin Gregore Borc.

The Romanian official added that "Transgaz is a state-owned majority company, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, a very efficient company, which this year alone has managed to do by themselves, to under-cross the Danube in an interconnection project with Bulgaria. If I am not mistaken, it is the longest under-crossing in Europe today. It was finished on time and in the best conditions."

Costin Gregore Borc also said that Romania is ready to co-finance this project, along with the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other financial institutions.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)