CHISINAU, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - The European Union will allocate 10 million euros ($12.9 million) to expand the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline to Chisinau, the official website of the Moldovan Economy Ministry reported.
"The European Union will provide 10 million euros for the expansion of the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline. The pipeline will be extended to Chisinau," the ministry's website stated. Previously, the Economy Ministry directly reported that the project aims to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
The Iasi-Ungheni pipeline was commissioned on August 27, 2014. Its length on the Romanian territory is 32 kilometers (19.8 miles). Some 736 meters (about 2400 feet) have been constructed under the river Prut, and another 11 kilometers are located on the territory of Moldova. Its construction has required 26 million euros ($33.5 millions), seven million ($9 million) of which have been granted by the European Union. The country's authorities have stated that the first stream of “blue fuel" will arrive at the beginning of September, but the pipeline is still not operable yet.
