Romanian gas transmission company Transgaz, via its Moldovan subsidiary Vestmoldtransgaz SRL (VMTG), took over the operation, maintenance, gas transmission and dispatching activities in Moldova from state-owned Moldovatransgaz on Monday (19 September).
“By taking over the operation, maintenance, gas transmission and dispatching activities from Moldovatransgaz, Vestmoldtransgaz will manage the entire gas infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova,” said Transgaz’s Director General, Ion Sterian.
Earlier this month, Vestmoldtransgaz signed a Lease Agreement to take over natural gas operation, exploitation and transmission from Moldovatransgaz, which was later approved by Moldova’s energy regulator.
“The investments Transgaz made on the territory of Romania, the NTS [national transmission system] developments in the North-Eastern part of the country: the Gas Pipeline OnestiGheraesti-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 430 million euros,” Mr Sterian said. “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.”
The designation of VMTG as the sole operator of Moldova’s gas transmission system is due to Moldovatransgaz’s failure to meet the unbundling and certification requirements according to the Third EU Energy Package.
“Now, after having taken over the NTS operation, Vestmoldtransgaz is planning to reupdate 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,” Transgaz’s Director General said. “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,” he concluded.
