Moldova’s natural gas market has become physically accessible to non-Russian gas suppliers through the Romania-Moldova interconnector, the Iasi–Ungheni–Chisinau pipeline. Built and operated by Romanian Transgaz and declared operational as of October this year after long delays, the interconnector has a design capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year—more than sufficient to meet right-bank Moldova’s annual consumption requirements of up to around 1 bcm per annum. Its daily throughput capacity of 6.5 million cubic meters (mcm), however, falls short of right-bank Moldova’s daily demand in the winter season, necessitating an additional volume by another delivery route in winter, if the interconnector were actually put to use (IPN, October 26). However, it seems unlikely to be used for some time.
Moldova Uniquely Vulnerable to Russian Energy Servitude (Part Two) – Jamestown