Works of construction of Ungheni-Chisinau interconnector start

Chisinau, 18 February /MOLDPRES/ - The works of construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau interconnector started today. They began with the building of an operational complex placed nearby the State Agrarian University.  

The operational compound Vestmoldtransgaz, placed on an area of more than four hectares, will be made up six real estate units: the principal building of control and command, industrial hall with mechanical workroom and warehouse, gate building, laboratory building, PSI pumps building.   

Attending the event, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that the gas pipeline with a length of 120 km would be able to supply the entire country with the needed volume of natural gas. “Today, we make the second step towards the energy security of Moldova. After many years, when with each step to the West, the gas price was used as a scarecrow by those who were supplying it to Moldova, we are getting close to the day when this will no longer happen. Our country will be able to take decisions for the benefit of the citizens, without risking dangers and this because there is an alternative source. The unification is occurring in this way: through the interconnection of the infrastructure, by strategic projects. Today, here, by the connection to the Romanian gas system, Moldova is connecting to the European gas system. Romania connects Moldova to Europe,” Filip said.    

Romanian Vice Prime Minister Ana Birchall said that this was a historical day. The official reiterated Romania’s commitment to continue the practical steps of backing the process of Moldova’s European integration.  

Director General of Transgaz Ion Sterian said that 93 million euros would be invested in works, noting that Transgaz “has its financing source ensured.” Sterian also said that the works might be finished till late 2019, although the contract provides for their completion in a period of 23 months. “At the finishing of this investment, conditions of appearance of a competition gas market are created in Moldova, which is for the benefit of the end consumers and of the economy, in general. The gas sources for Moldova will be multiple starting from the next year,” the Transgaz director general added.    

The contract on the privatization of the state enterprise Vestmoldtransgaz by the Romanian company Transgaz was signed on 28 March 2018. The Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline will have a length of 120 km and a capacity to annually carry about 1.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Romania to Moldova. The Ungheni-Chisinau natural gas transport network represents the second phase of the interconnection project Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau.