The Government will allot MDL 50 mln to the Chisinau City Hall for building the branch gas pipeline Tocuz – Cainari- Mereni. The decision has been made by the Cabinet on Wednesday, March 21, Info-Prim Neo reports. The first stage of the construction of the pipeline was operated in 2006. In the next stage, about 50 km of high pressure gas pipeline are to be built. This project will allow connecting several settlements from Causani, Anenii-Noi and Ialoveni raions to natural gas resources. The Government pledged to connect all the settlements in Moldova to the gas supply system by 2009. According to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure, 116 settlements were connected in 2006. About MDL 190 mln were taken from the State Budget for the construction of these networks. Starting January 1, Moldova imports natural gas from Russia at a price of USD 170 for 1,000 cu m, compared to USD 160 earlier. By 2011, the price of gas is to approach the average European level - USD 250 per 1,000 cu m.