Romania’s energy regulator ANRE on Thursday said companies could start exporting natural gas to neighbouring Moldova through the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline in the second half of August. Nicolae Havrilet said on Thursday that the exports will be at the disposal of any supplier and the prices practiced will be the same as the market in Romania.
Romania and Moldova invested EUR 28 million in a gas pipeline between the two countries, on the Iasi-Ungheni route, out of which EUR 7 million are granted by the EU. R0mania already exports gas through the Arad-Szeged (Hungary) pipeline, but in small quantities.
Romania has invested EUR 9 million in this project, which aims to diversify the gas supply of the Republic of Moldova, which is currently relying on Russian imports.
The pipeline can transport up to 1 billion of cbm, enough to cover one third of the gas consumption of the Republic of Moldova.