The gas pipeline from the Romanian city of Iasi to Chisinau is fully operational, said Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure of Moldova Andrei Spinu, Russian media reported.
“After many years of work and bureaucracy, the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline gives us access to the European energy market,” Spinu said on his Facebook page.
Spinu discussed with the representatives of Romania the possibility of an early start of gas supplies via the gas pipeline.
Moldova and Romania signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2015 to unite the gas and energy networks of the two countries. The memorandum provides for the extension of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline to Chisinau.
The construction of the branch to Chisinau began in May 2019 and was completed in August 2020. Thus, Moldova will be able to receive gas through Romania. Today, Chisinau receives gas from Russia via Ukraine.
“Negotiations on the supply of Russian gas to Moldova continue. In order not to interrupt gas supplies for a short time, we have confirmed the extension of the contract between Moldova and Gazprom for one month,” Spinu explained.
The current contract was signed in 2006 for five years, after which the contract was renewed annually.
Sources in the Moldovan government told Interfax that Spinu and Moldova Gaz will hold talks in St. Petersburg with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. The parties will discuss the possibility of concluding a new contract.