To be able to ensure the parameters mentioned in the technical data sheet of the project for the interconnection of the national gas transmission system with the similar system in the Republic of Moldova
it’s necessary to achieve additional developments
both in the Romanian and in the Moldovan gas transmission systems
The technical solution agreed by the two states to increase the transmission capacity of the interconnection (1.5bcm per year or 171,000 cubic meters per hour at a pressure of 38 bars at the border)
according to the annual report of Transgaz
The development of the eastern corridor aims to ensure bidirectional interconnection with the Republic of Moldova
and this requires the rehabilitation of some of the existing pipelines of this corridor
as well as the construction of new pipelines and the construction of compressor stations or the amplification of some of the existing ones (Onesti and Gheraesti)
In conditions in which gas exports through Iasi – Ungheni interconnector are still low
a new transmission infrastructure will be built on the territory of Romania for Romanian gas to reach Moldova
The project is considered ‘of national importance’ by the authorities in Bucharest and
it would allow the Moldovans to consume gas to be extracted from the Black Sea
the Government of Romania last year adopted a decision on the ‘Development of capacity of the National Transmission System to ensure gas flow on Romania-Republic of Moldova direction.’
“Given the configuration of the two national transmission systems and their technical characteristics
possibility to transport gas in bidirectional flow between Romania and the Republic of Moldova are limited
because: 1) The gas transmission system of the Republic of Moldova is based on pipelines with relatively small diameters (DN 100 – DN 250)
35 – 55 bars and 2) The gas transmission system in Romania is largely made of pipelines between DN 250 – DN 800
operated at pressure of 10 – 35 bars
with the exception of pipelines making gas transit from the Russian Federation to the countries on the Balkan corridor,” the substantiation note of the decision adopted last year shows
The development of this gas transmission corridor considers ensuring operation at the designed technical parameters of physical reverse flow interconnection with the Republic of Moldova
and for this end it is necessary to rehabilitate some of the existing pipelines of this corridor
as well as to build new pipelines and build two new compressor stations
Transgaz’s project has a cost of EUR 131.7mln and involves the construction of two new gas pipelines
according to the investment program of Transgaz
The project on the territory of Romania will be implemented in parallel with a new gas pipeline
linking the capital of the Republic of Moldova
the largest consumer in the neighbouring country
By means of current evaluations of the coordination possibilities in the implementation of the project
with that carried out on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and in correlation with the access to the offshore resources from the Black Sea
it is estimated a period of joint commissioning
“In the context of profiling major new sources of natural gas supply
the natural gas from the Caspian Sea region and those recently discovered in the Black Sea
the investments proposed by Transgaz in the Development Plan of the National Gas Transmission System (NTS) for 2018 – 2027
plan sent for approval at Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) are strategic investments in the energy field for the development of the natural gas transmission infrastructure of Romania and its compliance with the requirements of European legislation in the field,” the report shows
the company’s directors undertook to further launch and implement one of the largest and most important gas transmission infrastructure development plans in Romania over the past 20 years
with investment projects estimated at 1.9 billion euros
Transgaz will invest EUR 360mln to build the Tuzla-Podisor pipeline
which will take over gas to be extracted from the Black Sea
the H1 report for company’s directors shows
The major goal of this investment is to build a gas transmission telescopic pipeline Tuzla – Podisor
308.3 km long and DN 1200 and DN 1000 connecting the natural gas resources available at the Black Sea to the corridor BULGARIA – ROMANIA – HUNGARY – AUSTRIA
thus ensuring the possibility of transmission gas towards Bulgaria and Hungary through existing interconnectors Giurgiu – Ruse (Bulgaria) and Nadlac – Szeged (Hungary)
this pipeline will interconnect with the current international gas transmission pipeline T1 (Isaccea-Negru Voda)
Transmission capacity amounts to 8.14 million cubic meters/year and the investment amounts to EUR 360.36mln
the feasibility study and the environmental impact assessment study have been completed and the construction permit has been obtained
The final investment decision will be made this year
and construction is estimated for 2019 – 2020
Commissioning and start of operation are estimated for 2020
depending on the evolution of upstream offshore projects
Moldova’s Economy Minister Chiril Gaburici has recently stated that the Republic of Moldova would not negotiate yet an agreement with the Russian gas supplier Gazprom
but would focus on a project for the connection to the Romanian pipeline system
in conditions in which the current contract between Chisinau and the Russian energy giant Gazprom will expire in late 2019
the official from Chisinau highlighted that the Republic of Moldova would not give up the contract with Gazprom
but wanted to diversify its supply sources
“The possibility to have an alternative for the gas chapter will allow us to negotiate and obtain better prices
I did not say we would give up the contract with Gazprom
I do not rule out that we will use gas from two or three producers
It’s important to have more independence in this chapter,” Chiril Gaburici said for Radio Sputnik Moldova
the diversification of sources will allow the Republic of Moldova to better negotiate the price of gas for the citizens to have more affordable tariffs
Under the Development Plan of the National Gas Transmission System for the period 2018-2027
Transgaz also aims to achieve an interconnection with the Ukrainian gas transmission system
supplementing the project on developments of the national transmission system (NTS) in the North-East of Romania in order to improve gas supply to the region and ensure the transmission capacities to/from the Republic of Moldova
Transgaz has identified the opportunity of an interconnection of the NTS with the gas transmission system of Ukraine
on Gheraesti – Siret direction,” the Development Plan of Transgaz shows
the project ‘Interconnection of the national gas transmission system of Romania with the national gas transmission system of Ukraine on Gheraeati – Siret direction’ consists of:
the feasibility study following to be conducted this year
while all materials necessary would be acquired by 2021
so that the actual construction would start in 2022 and the start of operation would take place in 2025
by its subsidiary of the Republic of Moldova
and dispatches the gas transmission pipeline Ungheni-Chisinau and is certified according to the ownership unbundling model
gas transmission and dispatching activities in the Republic of Moldova from Moldovatransgaz SRL
Vestmoldtransgaz signed the contract on the lease of the gas transmission networks of this country under which it will take over
gas transmission and dispatching activities in the Republic of Moldova from the operator Moldovatransgaz SRL – a contract that was approved by the Energy Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Moldova
The designation of VMTG as sole operator of the gas transmission system of the Republic of Moldova is the consequence of Moldovatransgaz’ failure to meet the unbundling and certification requirements according to the Third EU Energy Package
of Directive 2009/72/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and of Law 108/27.05.2016
Transgaz’ Director General Ion Sterian stated: “By taking over the operation
gas transmission and dispatching activities from Moldovatransgaz
Vestmoldtransgaz will manage the entire gas infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova
The investments Transgaz made on the territory of Romania
the NTS developments in the North-Eastern part of the country: the Gas Pipeline Onesti-Gheraesti-Letcani
the upgrading of the compressor stations Silistea and Onesti 2
the construction of the compressor stations Onesti 1 and Gheraesti
the Interconnection Iasi-Ungheni are strategic investments amounting to approximately EUR 430 million
These investments have created the conditions for diversifying the sources and routes of natural gas supply
increasing the degree of security of natural gas supply for this winter and for the coming years
as well as the possibility of extending the NTS of Moldova in order to connect households and industrial consumers that do not yet have access to these resources to the gas distribution networks to be developed later
Vestmoldtransgaz is planning to re-update the 10-Year NTS Development Plan
which will be published on the company’s website as soon as possible
Transgaz achieves growing international recognition and boosts the confidence of our investors
who are investors in a Romanian multinational company in the energy sector
I trust Transgaz’ and Vestmoldtransgaz’ teams and I am confident that the good practices that have turned our company into a leading company in Romania will be rapidly adopted and put in place in the Republic of Moldova
thus contributing to the increase in this country’s energy security.”
More energy security for the Republic of Moldova
The takeover of gas transmission networks by Transgaz will mean more energy security for the Republic of Moldova
“The pace of connecting household and industrial consumers will accelerate,” he added
It is the first important step in the process of European integration
the general manager of Transgaz Romania told Radio Chisinau
“By taking over the operation of the gas networks of the Republic of Moldova
the first step in the European integration process has been taken
The electricity transmission part is the second step
while in terms of power transmission work is being done to increase capacity; in terms of roads
The European Commission strongly supports the Government and the Republic of Moldova
I want all negotiating chapters to be opened as soon as possible and the Republic of Moldova to become part of the European Union,” Ion Sterian stated
the general manager of Transgaz Romania wanted to assure all citizens of the Republic of Moldova that the takeover of gas transmission networks will mean more energy security for the entire country
“Nothing bad will happen by taking over the operation of the National Transmission System of the Republic of Moldova
it will accelerate the pace of connection of localities to gas for both household and industrial consumers
it will increase the security of gas supply for next winter and for the years to come.”
operates the Iasi – Ungheni – Chisinau gas pipeline
which has become the most strategic energy infrastructure objective of the Republic of Moldova in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
The takeover of gas transmission operations in the Republic of Moldova is an important step in securing the state’s energy security and eliminating one of the biggest impediments in the implementation of the European gas directive and considerably reducing dependence on a single supplier