OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2013. A partnership agreement between the Moldovan Economics Ministry and the Romanian National Agency for Natural Resources was signed in Chisinau.

The agreement was signed by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister, acting Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar and Romanian Minister Delegate for Energy Constantin Nita, who is on a visit to Moldova. The two ministries manage the construction of the Ungheni (Moldova) – Iasi (Romania) gas pipeline.

A memorandum of understanding between the Bucharest-based Institute of Study and Energy Projection (ISPE) and the Moldovan Energproiect Institute of Research, Projection and Technology was also signed.

The officials also approached Moldova?s options to join the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). ”Joining the ENTSO-E will consolidate the energy safety and will offer the possibility to choose anytime and without constrains between the alternative to buy energy from the East or from the West, as well as the trade arbitrage between the two blocks,” Lazar said.

According to the Economics Ministry, the working out of a feasibility study, with the support of the Moldova-Ukraine-Romania Joint Operational Programme, will provide for the optimal interconnection method of the two energy systems.

The sides have examined the development of preparations for starting up the construction of the Ungheni-Iasi reversible gas pipeline, including the technical aspects as regards the documents related to the launching of the pipeline?s construction works.