OREANDA-NEWS. August 02, 2012. Prime Minister Vlad Filat met Edward Chow, an energy expert and senior fellow in the Energy and National Security Programme at the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the government's communication and press relations department has reported.

US ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary William Moser attended the meeting.

The sides focused on the situation in the energy sector, the diversification of Moldova's energy sources and trends on the world and regional energy market.

Filat welcomed the US expert to Chisinau, noting that Moldova wants to diversify its energy sources and is considering the existing opportunities. The prime minister thanked the expert and the US Government for the constant and truly useful support provided to Moldova.

Vlad Filat presented the current situation in Moldova's energy sector. In the context, he talked about the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline that is expected to be put into operation by late 2013, about the interconnection of the power line Balti-Suceava and the construction of the power line Balti-Suceava. The prime minister also talked about the implementation of the EU's Third Energy Package in Moldova.

Filat pointed out Moldova's interest in alternative energy resources, including biomass, noting that in this respect Moldova enjoys the support of the European Commission, Japanese government and international donors.

"We have a clear view of what we have to do in order to diversify the energy sources. We must act swiftly to ensure the country's energy security," Filat said.

Edward C. Chow said this was his first visit to Moldova, although he had worked for years in such states from the region as Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. The expert specified that despite his short stay in Moldova, he got acquainted with the situation in the local energy sector, with Moldova being one of the most vulnerable countries in this respect.

The expert pointed out the need to act swiftly in order to diversify and efficiently manage the energy resources.