OREANDA-NEWS. On August 20, 2009 As it was informed in the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, since launching of the National Gasification Program in 2001, about 700 localities have been connected to the gas network.

Thus, if at the end of 2000, 223 localities were connected to the gas supply; as of January 1, 2009 their number had risen to 921. In III quarter of 2009, it is planned to put into operation the main gas pipeline Balti-Ungheni that will gasify about 250 localities in the north-west of the country. Currently, 100% gas supply is provided in the localities of Chisinau and Balti municipalities, Basarabeasca, Criuleni, Dubosari, Straseni, Stefan Voda, Taraclia regions and ATO Gagauzia.

The goal of the National Gasification Program of Moldova is to expand the gas pipelines network and provide natural gas to all the consumers. 888 million leis (US79.3 million) were allocated from the state budget for this purpose. The financing of the project was also provided by the citizens, as well as company SC "Moldovagaz".

As it was informed before, in order to complete full gasification of the country, it is necessary to connect to the natural gas 751 localities of the country. The National Gasification Program of Moldova, which provides connection all the localities of the country to the natural gas, was launched in 2001 and should be completed till the end of 2010. Earlier the program was estimated at 1.7 billion leis (over US 150 million). It is funded by the state budget, local budgets, as well as through loans, grants and public funds.