$50 million gas pipe in northern Moldova

Russian gas pipe maker Stroitransgaz, held by the Gazprom Group is planning to build a $50 million gas duct between Drochia (Republic of Moldova) and Iasi (Romania) via Ungheni, an official of the Government in Kishinev was quoted as saying by The Moscow Times last week. The new Russian natural gas import route on which both the Russians and the Romanians had agreed since the mid-nineties is now brought up again by the Moldovan officials. The relaunch of this project by the Eastern partners comes at a time when Romania is looking for alternatives to the import of Russian natural gases (the Caspian Sea, Norway or Algeria). Romania’s gas imports, which cover a quarter of the domestic demand originate exclusively from Russia at the moment, entering the Romanian system in two points, that is Mediesu Aurit (North) and Isaccea (South East). “The Russians dropped the project back then, because they had other priorities such as the expansion of the gas transport capacity to Greece and Turkey via Romania. This ‘connection’ would help us cover the gas consumption in Moldova. On the other hand, the gas deficit in the area can be covered by other sources, as well,” officials of the national gas carrier Transgaz Medias told Ziarul Financiar when asked for comment on the Russian initiative. Experts say the new import source would be vital to the Republic of Moldova, while Romania could use the duct in case it builds the natural gas storage in Margineni-Roman. ZF