The Ministry of Energy will ask for the inclusion of the AGRI gas interconnector on the list of projects of common interest, so that this project can benefit from European funds, said Robert Tudorache, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy.

“We reiterated the ministry’s desire that the AGRI project to continue; we will support this project, which allows diversification of supply sources. We and Hungary intend to ask for including this project on the list of European projects of common interest. We will do whatever possible to have this project included, and then the project company will rebuild the feasibility study,” said Tudorache, quoted by Agerpres.

He said that, if included on the list, the project could receive European funds. “AGRI will have to meet certain conditions to be included on this list. One of the conditions is to represent the interest of two EU Member States,” the State Secretary continued.

The AGRI project (Azerbaijan – Georgia – Romania Interconnector) aims to transport natural gas from the Caspian region, through Azerbaijan and Georgia, and to cross the Black Sea with metane ships, involving the construction of two liquefaction terminals (on the Georgian Black Sea coast and at Constanta).

Once in Romania, the liquefied gas would be re-gaseified and then transported further by pipelines to the rest of Europe. Gas volumes are mainly intended to cover consumption in Romania and Hungary, while the rest to be directed to other potential markets in Europe.

The AGRI project was initiated in 2010, through a memorandum signed in Bucharest between Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Hungary has joined later.