Moldova to be connected to European gas network no later than first part of 2020, states Transgaz

Chisinau, 14 June /MOLDPRES/ – Moldova will be connected to the European gas network no later than first half of 2020 and will then be able to receive gas from a multitude of sources, said general manager of Transgaz, Ion Sterian, at the General Gas Assembly Infrastructure Europe, which took place in Bucharest, with reference to Agerpres.

"In 2019 – first part of 2020, we will succeed in connecting Moldova to the European gas transport infrastructure. We can lead gas from Romania in the Black Sea from TAP-TANAP – southern corridor of northern Greece, and vice versa, because all these corridors are on the reverse flow (in both directions). We can bring gas to Chisinau even from the North Sea," said Sterian.

"I am glad to see progress of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline project. At the end of summer we will be on jobsite and we will work," said Economy and Infrastructure Minister, Chiril Gaburici, in mid – May at Forum "Excellency in Business", attended by his Romanian counterpart Danut Andrusca.

Transgaz won tender for acquisition of the Moldovan gas transport operator in winter 2017 – 2018. "We are in the process of finalising the transfer," said the Transgaz representative.

The length of gas pipeline Ungheni-Chisinau will be about 120 kms, which will allow the transport of about 1.5 billion m3 of natural gas, which will fully cover the gas needs of Moldova, except for the Transnistrian region. There will be completed gas transport systems in Romania and Moldova by commissioning of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline. EU, EBRD and EIB offer a €92 million financing package for construction of gas pipeline in the direction of Ungheni – Chisinau. The EIB and EBRD award a loan of €41 million each, and the EU – €10 million grant.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)