The Government approved the ratification of the financial assistance agreement for the purchase of natural gas between Moldova and the EBRD that was signed on December 11. The draft decision will be submitted to Parliament for adoption, IPN reports.

By this agreement, the EBRD undertook to offer Moldova money for the purchase of a quantity of natural gas if the negotiations on the transportation of Russian gas through Ukraine to the countries of Southeastern Europe are not closed by January 1, 2020.

When the agreement takes effect, Energocom, which holds a license for the supply of natural gas, will sign a contract on the financing mechanism with the Ministry of Finance. To ensure the country’s energy security, the Cabinet ordered that Energocom should negotiate with Ukraine’s Naftogaz and sign an agreement on the holding of a tender contest by the Ukrainian side for buying a quantity of natural gas and supplying this to Moldova’s border in case of an emergency in Moldova.