OREANDA-NEWS.  June 17, 2013. Valetiu Lazar, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, says that the official part will be on the Independence Day of Moldova. It is planned that the works will be over by the end of 2013. Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline will interconnect the gas networks of Moldova and Romania and allow transmitting 1.5 billion cubic meter of natural gas per year, which is almost the same amount as the annual import of gas to Moldova, not including Transnistria.

This will reinforce the power safety of Moldova and diversify the sources of natural gas supplies. If the gas by means of Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline is going to be sold by smaller prices, then Moldovagaz will have to buy and deliver the gas to Moldova. The total length of the gas pipeline makes 43.2 km, whereof 11 km will be in Moldova. The total sum of works makes EUR 19 million. Romania will give EUR 9 million.

The European Commission will also contribute in terms of money. The gas pipeline construction aims to strengthen the power safety of two countries and diversify the sources and routes of natural gas supply. The gas will be imported from Romania; initially gas is got from a neighbor-country. Probably, it will be bought from Azerbaijan or other Nabucco Project countries.

To put Ungheni-Iasi gas pipeline into service there should be built a compressed air plant. Later on, it is planned to build Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline with total length 130 km.