Romania to deliver cheaper gas to Moldova

Romania’s state-owned gas producer Romgaz and OMV Petrom, the largest local oil&gas, both sent offers to the Moldovan state-owned gas company to deliver gas from Romania to Moldova, according to Romania’s Energy Department. These gas exports should be made through the Iasi – Ungheni pipeline, which was inaugurated earlier this year. The two Romanian companies asked for a 20% lower price compared to Russia’s Gazprom, according to Romanian Energy Department representatives, quoted by Agerpres. The gas pipe between Romania and Moldova is 43 kilometres long and has a maximum capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters per year, which is more than Moldova’s annual gas consumption. Romgaz and OMV Petrom each account for almost a half of Romania’s gas production. Romania covers most of its gas consumption from the internal production, but still imports some small quantities from Russia’s Gazprom. Romania’s gas imports used to represent about 20% of its consumption, but in recent years imports went down as consumption diminished due to higher prices. editor@romania-insider.com