Construction of pipeline connecting Romanian, Moldovan gas systems to start in May

The works on the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline will start in May and shall be completed by late 2013, Romanian Energy Minister Constantin Nita said, according to a press release by the Romanian Economics Ministry.

The construction of the Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline will be carried out with the financial support of the European Commission within the Moldova-Romania cross-border cooperation programme. According to the plan, the companies Transgaz (Romania) and Moldovagaz (Moldova) will be the ones involved in the project.

The construction of a reversible gas pipeline was agreed and included in the Moldovan-Romanian cooperation protocol from 24 May 2010. The project was declared as priority by the both states´ governments.

The Ungheni-Iasi interconnection pipeline will have a capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters per year, equivalent to about 15 per cent of the national annual production. The project’s total cost is estimated at 19.2 million euros.

The Iasi-Ungheni pipeline will have a 43.2-kilometer length, of which 32.8 kilometres on Romania’s territory.

Adapted from MOLDPRES