The inauguration of the largest project to interconnect the gas transportation systems of Romania and Moldova on the Iasi-Ungheni route will take place on August 27, starting at 1pm. After the attending officials give speeches, there will be lit a symbolic flame, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline started a year ago. The total cost of the project is €26 million, €7 million of which represents an EU grant.

The gas pipeline, which is 43.2 km long, has a capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas. 50 million cubic meters of gas will be supplied annually from Romania at the initial stage. In 2013, internal consumption in Moldova, except for Transnistria, totaled about 1 billion cubic meters of gas.

On Moldova’s territory, the gas pipeline will be managed by the state-run company Vestmoldtransgaz, which will provide natural gas transportation services in Moldova, while on Romania’s territory by Transgaz.

The next stage of the project includes the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau duct on the territory of Moldova and of the Onesti-Letcani duct with a compressor station on the territory of Romania.