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Romania could give nine million euros to Republic of Moldova for building Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline
Romania could give the Republic of Moldova nine million euros for building the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline of the 100 million euro grant previously offered by the Romanian side. Romanian Minister Delegate for Energy Constantin Nita on last Friday, in Chisinau, discussed this possibility with Minister of Economy and Trade Valeriu Lazar.
'The sides also talked about signing a memorandum of understanding on the tender for the underwater crossing of the river Prut as well as the means to allocate the financial sources worth 9 million euros out of the account of the non-repayable grant offered by Romania, which are necessary for building the segment in the territory of the Republic of Moldova,' according to a release of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Chisinau.
A next stage of this project is the building of a compressor station from structural funds. It would ensure the pressure in the gas pipeline in order to benefit by its full capacity.
The final stage of the project is the building of the 130 km long Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline. According to Vice-Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar, several development partners voiced interest in financing this project.
The two ministers also discussed the options of the Republic of Moldova to join the European network of transmission system operators. According to Lazar, making a feasibility study, with the support of the Republic of Moldova-Ukraine-Romania joint operational programme, will indicate the optimum means of interconnection of the two energy systems.
During the visit paid by Minister Constantin Nita to Chisinau, they signed a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Moldova and the National Agency for Material Reserves in Romania, institutions that manage the building of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline. They also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Institute of Power Studies and Design in Bucharest and the Energoproiect Institute of Research, Design and Technology of the Republic of Moldova.
'We want to see the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline carried out at a fast pace. We want to complete it by the end of the year, and then also build the compressor stations, under a joint agreement,' Constantin Nita said.
Valeriu Lazar said that the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline is the key element of the Romanian-Moldovan energy cooperation at this stage. He reiterated that the authorities in Chisinau have already announced the bidding for the works on the pipeline, which are supposed to begin at the end of August, so that they are completed this year.
Lazar also spoke about the interest of the Moldovan party in the interconnection of the two states' power grids and stressed that by getting connected to the Romanian energy system, the Republic of Moldova will practically become part of the European energy system. 'When we talk about Moldovan-Romanian projects, we talk about Moldovan-European projects, as Romania is the country through which we become part of the pan-European energy market, Valeriu Lazar concludes.