
The Romanian Competition Council approved the transaction, as a result of which the EBRD acquired from the Romanian Tranzgaz a 25% stake in Vestmoldtransgaz, which operates the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline.
After this transaction, Vestmoldtransgaz will belong to Eurotransgaz LLC and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Eurotransgaz is a company registered in Moldova, owned by the Romanian National Gas Transportation Company Transgaz. Eurotransgaz operates in the production, storage, transportation, distribution and supply of natural gas, pipeline transportation, storage, as well as consulting services for business and management. Vestmoldtransgaz is an operator of natural gas transportation systems, has a license for this purpose in Moldova, but currently does not carry out activities in this area, since for the full launch of the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline in Romania, it is necessary to build a gas pipeline on the Onesti-Gheraesti-Letcani section as well as 2 compressor stations in Onesti and Gheraesti. Earlier, Transgaz announced that it would complete these works in 2021, and the throughput capacity of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline will increase from October 1, 2021. After the analysis, the Romanian Competition Council stated that the transaction to buy the EBRD from Tranzgaz a 25% stake in Vestmoldtransgaz does not create significant obstacles to effective competition in the Romanian market or in a significant part of it, and there are no serious doubts about its compatibility with the normal competitive environment. The EBRD co-financed the construction of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, investing 20 million euros in increasing the authorized capital of Vestmoldtransgaz and received 25% of its shares. // 30.07.2021 — InfoMarket