The Moldovan state company Energocom has bought 4.3 million cubic meters of gas from the Mediterranean region – through the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector, via Romania, to be stored in Ukraine – to test how this route works in reverse flow mode. This was announced by Energocom acting director Victor Bînzari in a Facebook post.
According to Bînzari, the Trans-Balkan route was previously used only from north to south, and this buy marks the first time ever the pipeline has been used to transport gas, non-Russian gas, in the opposite direction. This was done to diversify sources and ensure Moldova’s energy security, he added.
Meanwhile, there are several other potential gas sources under discussion. One such source is the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline that feeds into Chisinau and which is now being tested with various amounts of gas. “Energocom needs to have ties and relationships with as many companies from European countries as possible, so that Moldova is 100 percent guaranteed with natural gas and electricity”, said Bînzari.
Transgaz data shows, for December 1st, the physical flow of gas from Romania to Ukraine, through the Isaccea point. Later this gas flowed to the Republic of Moldova.
Moldova can now receive additional volumes from the gas flowing from Romania to Ukraine, via the Issacea interconnection point, circumventing the Russian-controlled Transnistria.