Moldova inaugurates Iasi-Ungheni pipeline

Moldova has inaugurated a new natural gas pipeline that is set to reduce the country’s reliance on Russia for energy supplies. The 43 km interconnector, which runs from Ungheni, west of Moldova, to Iasi, east of Romania, is the first and only direct gas pipeline connecting the country to the EU.

The inauguration ceremony, held on 27 August, was attended by a number of government officials, including the Romanian and Moldovan Prime Ministers, Victor Ponta and Iurie Leanca, respectively, as well as EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger.

"Today is a very important date for Moldova's energy independence," Leanca said. "In a maximum of two years our energy system will be perfectly interconnected with Europe and we will be able to buy gas either from the East or West."

The Iasi-Ungheni pipeline, which cost approximately €26 million to construct (with the EU contributing around €7 million), will initially carry around 50 million m³ of gas a year to Moldova and has the potential to transport some 1.5 billion m³.

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Sources: The Sofia Globe, The Moscow Times, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

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