Brussels, 27/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 27 August, European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and his Moldovan counterpart, Iurie Leanca, inaugurated the work for building the gas interconnector between Ungheni (West of Moldova) and Iasi (East of Romania). Oettinger said: “This is a historic day - we are celebrating the fact that Moldova will be directly connected to the EU gas market. This will enhance its energy security and reduce its dependence on the only supplier it has now (Ed: i.e. Russia)”.
The interconnector is the first and only direct gas pipeline connecting Moldova and the EU. It will have a maximum transportation capacity of one billion cubic metres annually, covering around one third of the gas consumption in Moldova. It will also deliver gas to the capital, Chisinau. To date, Moldova, which does not produce gas, has been fully dependent on natural gas imported from Russia.
The European Commission has already approved a €7 million subsidy for the project as part of the neighbourhood policy. The Romanian government has also committed to assist Moldova with €9 million. Total construction costs amount to €28 million.
Since 2010, Moldova has been a member of the “Energy Community” which aims to extend the EU internal energy market to EU neighbours. Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Ukraine and Kosovo are also members. The EU aims to integrate these countries to the EU market by legislation but also by connecting them physically to the European energy market. (OL/transl.jl)