Import of oil products through Moldova's eastern border to be extended till 1 July 2018

Chisinau, 11 January /MOLDPRES/ - The import of oil products through Moldova’s eastern border for economic agents from the Transnistrian region was extended till 1 July 2018, according to an amendment made today by the cabinet to its decision from 9 November 2016.    

The ruling from 9 November saw the customs clearance, at the Bender-2 customs checkpoint, of oil products imported through the crossing point Novosavitskaya-Kuchurgan, till 31 December 2016. The concerned decision was taken after, in August 2016, Ukraine had ceased the import of oils products for the Transnistrian region by railway, through the border checkpoints Kolbasna – Slobodka and Kuchurgan. As a result, the traffic of fuels was redirected through the Ocnita border checkpoint and subsequently, the oil products were carried to the railway stations Rabnita and Bender-2.      

The decision was in force till 31 December 2016 and was subsequently extended under cabinet decision till 1 July 2017, respectively, until 31 December 2017. A mechanism of joint customs control, which allows the export of goods directly through the Transnistrian region under the full control of Moldova’s Customs Service, was established at the railway stations Rabnita and Bender-2 starting from 31 December 2017. As economic affect, the concerned decision shortens the road of goods’ transportation by about 400 km, which meets the interests of companies from both banks of Dniester.   

At present, the sides consider possibility of extending the validity term of the protocol decision, On principles of full resumption of the movement of freight trains through the Transnistrian region, till 31 December 2018 and, for these reasons, decision-makers initiated the procedure of extending the term of action of the concerned government decision for the next six months, with possibility to prolong it subsequently.   

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)