The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERD) has expressed its satisfaction with the way it cooperates with the Ministry of Economy and the national gas operator Transgaz in the BRUA project that will transport natural gas on the corridor Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria, according to a press release from the Ministry of Economy.

“We are very pleased with your cooperation with you”, said Mihnea Crăciun, the deputy director of BERD Romania, during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Economy. He said that BERD is ready to continue providing consultancy and funding for the BRUA strategic project.

“The Ministry of Economy supports Transgaz and monitors the project, which is on schedule. Within our competence, we try to address the possible obstacles in the way of BRUA, to clarify and eliminate them”, explained Secretary of State Petre Nicolescu.

According to the release, “Transgaz is on the verge of finalizing the environmental and social documentation of the project”, said Iulian Butnaru, project manager BRUA.

At the meeting, Iulian Butnaru mentioned that Transgaz is cooperating with the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration to clarify the situation of the land that the pipeline will cross. “The collaboration aims at the cadastral registration of landowners, so that all entitled persons will receive compensation and indemnities.”

“At present Transgaz is in procurement procedures for the materials needed to build the pipeline, and it is estimated that the works will start in the first part of November 2017”, explained the BRUA project manager.

On behalf of the Ministry of Economy, BERD’s main adviser, Veselina Haralambieva and the BERD chief economist, Chris Basinski, also attended the meeting.