OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2013. Prime Minister-designate Iurie Leanca met Romanian Minister Delegate for Energy Constantin Nita, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

Romanian ambassador to Moldova Marius Lazurca, the head of the Romanian National Agency for Mineral Resources, Gheorghe Dutu, the head of the Romanian Transelectrica company, Octavian Lohan and the head of the Romanian Transgaz company, Ioan Rusu also attended the meeting.

The officials assessed the Moldovan-Romanian strategic cooperation in the energy sector and its consolidation prospects. The officials referred, in particular, to the dynamic of implementation of the extended project of interconnection of the natural gas and power transportation systems.

Leanca stressed that Nita’s visit to Moldova fits into the advancement process of the energy projects between the two states.

”It is important that the political dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and Romania includes impact projects, so that Moldova’s European option becomes irreversible,” Leanca said.
The sides welcomed the launching of auctions on the construction of the Ungheni (Moldova) – Iasi (Romania) gas pipeline. The officials also appreciated the signing of a partnership agreement between the Moldovan Economics Ministry and the Romanian National Agency for Mineral Resources, authorities responsible for the project’s implementation. They agreed to sign, in the nearest future, a memorandum of understanding as regards the auctions related to the works of sub-crossing the Prut River. The sides confirmed the objective of launching the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline construction works in August 2013.

The sides also referred to the construction of a gas compressing station on Romania’s territory, as well as to the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipe.

They also approached the prospects of implementing Moldova’s connection to the Romanian electric power transportation system.

The officials also agreed to create an intergovernmental working group in the energy area, which would monitor the implementation of the Moldovan-Romanian strategic energy projects. The group will be meant to continuously monitor the construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, as well as to set up the Moldovan-Romanian joint electric interconnection priorities.