Moldova Says Gas Explosion Won't Affect Supplies

CHISINAU (Reuters) -- An explosion has damaged a Moldovan pipeline used to deliver Russian gas to the Balkans, but supplies to Europe were unaffected, the government said.
   
A stretch of pipeline around 70 kilometers southeast of the capital Chisinau exploded on November 8, cutting supplies to some regions of Moldova, the government said in a statement.
   
But supplies of Russian gas to Balkan consumers is continuing through other routes, said government spokesman Igor Volnitsky.
   
"Gas is flowing to the Balkans at the same levels as before," he said, adding that the pipeline would be repaired within 72 hours.
   
An explosion in a gas pipeline in the separatist Moldovan region of Transdniester in April caused a sharp drop in supplies to Turkey and Bulgaria.