In a recent statement, Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov highlighted that the expansion of the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău gas pipeline’s capacity will significantly boost Moldova’s energy resilience.
Vestmoldtransgaz, a subsidiary of Romania’s Trasgaz, now managing the network, is tasked with proposing strategic enhancements to increase capacity between Ungheni and Chișinău or consider branching connections from Ungheni to Bălți and Drochia.
“Vestmoldtransgaz must devise solutions to efficiently develop Moldova’s gas network, ensuring flexibility in importing and exporting gas between Romania and Ukraine. Collaboration between Moldova and Poland in natural gas delivery and transit further strengthens our position. The more gas transits Moldova, the less pressure on Moldovan consumers, yielding greater benefits for our country through gas transit,” emphasized Minister Victor Parlicov.
The Iași-Chișinău gas pipeline currently boasts a maximum daily delivery capacity of 5 million cubic meters. The memorandum signed in December 2023 between the Energy Ministries of Chișinău and Bucharest outlines plans for the growth of natural gas transport capacity and the extension of the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău pipeline through the construction of a gas transport conduit known as the “Chisinau Belt.”
This ambitious objective aims for completion by the end of 2031, signifying a significant step towards Moldova’s energy security and regional cooperation.