Romania reconfirms intention to invest in natural gas, electric energy interconnections

Chisinau, 28 July /MOLDPRES/ - The Romanian authorities have reconfirmed intentions to make investments in the projects on interconnection of the networks of natural and electric energy from Romania and Moldova, at a meeting with a delegation of the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry  (MEI).

According to the MEI press service, a group of specialists of the institution discussed with colleagues of the Romanian Economy Ministry aspects on facilitating Romanian investments in projects on interconnection, as well as options of practical implementation of these projects. The sides agreed on the working out and mutual approval of roadmaps for the projects’ implementation, with establishing the responsibilities for making the investments and carrying out the projects.  

Among the most important joint projects, there is the construction of the gas pipeline Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau, with a length of 120 km, which is declared project of national importance both in Moldova and in Romania. At a recent visit to Chisinau by Romanian PM Mihai Tudose, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that the technical project would be ready in several weeks and the gas pipeline would be functional till late 2018. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank provided loans worth 41 million euros each for the works of designing and construction of the gas pipeline.    

Moldova’s energy strategy till 2030 clearly reads that works should be carried out to make operational the line Isaccea-Vulcanesti, as well as to finish the high-tension electricity lines Suceava-Balti and Iasi-Ungheni-Straseni. The discussions on the interconnections have advanced significantly in the last two years and have become priorities assumed politically by Moldova, Romania and, respectively, EU and the Energy Community.    

The visit to Bucharest by the delegation of the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry was organized in the context of continuing the bilateral dialogue for carrying out the projects on interconnection of the natural gas and electricity transport networks between Romania and Moldova. The dialogue was initiated by PMs Pavel Filip and Mihai Tudose at a visit to Chisinau by the Romanian prime minister on 21 July.   

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)