Energy Minister Victor Parlicov met with his Romanian counterpart Sebastian-Ioan Burduja, and discussed several topics related to bilateral energy relations, including the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova and the region.

Minister Parlicov expressed confidence that the expansion of OPCOM, the Romanian electricity and natural gas market operator in the Republic of Moldova, will create the energy market and boost other projects initiated by the Energy Ministry, such as smart metering, vehicle-to-grid, introduction of differentiated tariffs, etc.

The officials reviewed developments on the three energy interconnection projects with Romania, Vulcanesti - Chisinau, Balti - Suceava and the Chisinau - Iasi axis. They also discussed Romanian investment opportunities in Moldova's energy sector, Chisinau's participation in the expansion of the operations of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant and the extraction of natural gas from the Black Sea.

The parties also discussed the options and conditions for the delivery of electricity from Romania in the event of failure to sign a contract with the Cuciurgan power plant.

Victor Parlicov expressed thanks for Romania's unconditional political, financial and expert support and discussed the results of the audit of Moldovagaz's alleged debt to Gazprom and the progress of the unbundling process or the separate operation of natural gas transmission and distribution. The gas transmission system is currently in the process of being taken over by the Romanian transmission system operator's subsidiary Transgaz. Possible risks have also been mentioned following the transmission to Moldovagaz and Gazprom of the results of the alleged debt audit and Chisinau's proposals for its settlement.