MOLDOVA WILL BE GETTING GAS FROM RUSSIA IN 2019

Deputy President of the Russian Gazprom Valery Golubev confirmed that the company will provide to Moldova the entire necessary volume of gas in 2019, according to the earlier achieved agreements. He stated this at the Tuesday's meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip in Chisinau.

The interlocutors exchanged opinions about perspectives of developing cooperation between Moldova and Gazprom, discussed the issues concerning the transit of the Russian gas through the republic's territory and procedures of reorganizing the Moldovagaz state company in accordance with the national legislation amendments and Moldova's international liabilities. In particular, this concerns the European directives, including the 3rd Energy Package Moldova undertook to fulfill until January 1, 2020.

The premier stressed that the Government will provide necessary support for restructuring the sector in due terms and the creation of a competitive market in this field.

During his visit to Chisinau, Golubev also met with Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Chiril Gaburici, discussing with him the perspectives of developing relations between Moldova and the Russian concern. According to the Moldovan Government, also the interlocutors considered the possibility of using the energy infrastructure by all suppliers [so far, Gazprom is the single supplier of the blue fuel to Moldova, but the republic hopes that in 2019, after the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline is built, Romania will join it].

"The guaranteed supply of natural gas is vital for Moldova. We must not allow citizens to remain without gas. A healthy competitive market will allow establishing real prices both for consumers and the suppliers", the minister said.

As Infotag has already reported, the Plan on implementing the 3rd Energy Package in Moldova, presented to Brussels, implies the dividing of the Moldovagaz into two enterprises - on gas transportation and on gas distribution. With all this, the concern preserves the ownership right over all the objects, but the administration of one of enterprises will be transmitted to an independent operator.