OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2010. As it was communicated at the press conference, dedicated to the results of a visit to Skopje (Macedonia) by Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, the official decision in this respect was taken in the course of VIII Ministerial Council meeting of the Energy Community on South-Eastern Europe, held on September 24 in Skopje.

Valeriu Lazar emphasized that Moldova’s priorities in the course of its chairmanship in the Energy Community (EC), will become as follows: elaboration of general frames for promotion of investments in modernization and development of energy infrastructure; delivering of energy efficiency; development of researches on EC oil area. Speaking on the results of the meeting, Valeriu Lazar noted the signing of a protocol on joining of Ukraine to EC, becoming its full-member from November 1. It was emphasized that the new status of Ukraine will make it possible to increase the safety level in supplying the energy resources.

Besides, the ideas on ensuring supply of EC countries of energy resources for winter period 2010-2011 were set forth at the meeting as well. The initiative of Serbia on elaboration of a common strategy in the energy sector for the country-members from the South-Eastern Europe was welcomed in this context. Valeriu Lazar emphasized that the main common problem for all countries was the impossibility of attraction of considerable investments on the separate small markets, implying the necessity of a common market.

According to estimates, Moldova has to build 200 km of gas pipeline, requiring EUR 1 billion, in order to construct a common market. According to the minister, two Moldavian projects were put on the EC agenda for support: construction of a PTL Balti-Suceava for interconnection between Moldova and Romania and a gas pipeline Ungheni-Iasi 36 km in length. EUR 19 million are required for the construction of the gas pipeline, out of which EUR 7 million will be as grant. The implementation of these investment projects is included in the Development Plan of European Transport Networks and in the Transboundary Program.

The projects, already included in the EBRD and the EIB financing plans, will be discussed by the banks. The Energy Community Treaty was signed on October 25, 2005. Since November 2006 Moldova had a status of an observer and since May 2010 – a full member of the Community. The purpose of the EC is to create a common space on regulation of energy market on the territory of the EU and the South-Eastern Europe.