The heads of the Energy Ministries of Romania and Moldova, distribution and transmission operators from the two countries, representatives of regulatory institutions, meeting in Chisinau, agreed to continue and strengthen the dialog on energy interconnection projects, gas purchases and storage, as well as discussed the possibility of concluding long-term contracts for the delivery of electricity.

During the meeting hosted by the Parliament, it was announced that the Romanian Electricity and Natural Gas Market Operator (OPCOM) has decided to open a subsidiary in the Republic of Moldova. This will accelerate the liberalization of the domestic energy market and integrate it quickly into regional markets, said Energy Minister Victor Parlicov. "OPCOM comes with all its experience of more than 20 years, an experience of a market organized on EU conditions. We hope that next year the first transactions on an energy exchange will be organized in Moldova," the Energy Minister said.

It was agreed that part of Moldova's gas security stocks will be kept in Romania. There was also an overview of priority initiatives for the parties, including Chisinau's representatives asking the Romanian partners to involve Chisinau in the submarine energy project that is to transport energy and gas from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Romania.

Minister Victor Parlicov thanked Romania for its unconditional political support and for the speed with which progress has been made on many energy projects.

The State Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, Pavel-Casian Nițulescu, said that in the next few years gas and nuclear-fuel power generation plants will be put into operation, so that Romania will not only produce for its own consumption, but will also be able to cover Moldova's consumption. This is why companies from across the Prut are interested in long-term contracts with Moldovan suppliers.

"Romania will rapidly achieve the status of a strategic regional energy supplier, given the countless possibilities for electricity production. Together with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, we want to finalize all the projects reviewed, both on the energy side, as well as on the gas and gas storage side, to offer alternative sources of electricity and gas," said Pavel-Casian Nitsulescu.

At the same time, the parties agreed to close the chapter of debts for a contract for the delivery of electricity from Romania to the Republic of Moldova from 1999-2000, which have been settled, but some technical processes of writing off from the accounting books have not been finalized.