OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2011. It was said by the Deputy Minister of Economy Illarion Popa, InfoMarket was informed at the Ministry of Economy’s press service.

The gas pipeline’s cost is valued at about EUR 20 million. Its construction will enable to provide the interconnection of the two countries’ gas-transport systems to provide the alternative natural gas supplies. The Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline is planned to be built with the European Union’s financial support under the Program of the border cooperation of Moldova and Romania.

The technical and economic justification of the gas pipeline building is supposed to be presented to donors in June 2011 for them to take a final decision regarding co-funding of the project. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valerii Lazar said earlier that a part of the needed funds in the amount of EUR 7 million would be allocated by the European Commission under the joint operational program Romania-Ukraine-Moldova. EUR 3 million of them are intended for Moldova, and EUR 4 million – for Romania.

To cover its general project costs, Moldova needs EUR 6-7 million of additional investments. Valerii Lazar asked the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to co-finance construction of the gas pipeline. According to him, the joint work group has already chosen an approximate route of the gas pipeline, its length to total 40 kilometers, with 31 kilometers – in Romania and 9 kilometers – in Moldova.