The Iași-Ungheni gas pipeline is for Moldova an alternative instrument designed to ensure the country’s energy security so that this does not depend on the East only. Moldovagaz does not yet plan to purchase gas from Transgaz as Gazprom offers better commercial conditions, the president of the Administration Board of Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban told a news conference, being quoted by IPN.

“We already received cooperation offers from suppliers of Romania and this is absolutely normal. We will act according to the European rules. Modlovagaz or the bodies that will be created after the reorganization of the company will operate according to the European rules. Evidently, first of all we will consider the economic aspect of the supply process,” stated Vadim Ceban.

According to him, it is now more convenient to buy gas from Gazprom because the final price contains the related costs, including the transportation up to the border. “If the supplier brings the gas up to the border or the point of entry into the system, we will calculate to see where the transportation route is more convenient and where the price is more convenient,” noted Vadim Ceban. He added that Transgaz is not seen as an opponent and the more advantageous price will matter anyway.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Romania Ludovic Orban said that the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline is ready to be put into operation. The total length of the pipeline is 120 km and its annual transportation capacity is about 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas.