MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti) - Inter RAO UES, Russia's electricity import and export operator, has started electric power supplies to Romania for the first time in the past twenty years, a source in the Russian company said Sunday.

Electricity will be supplied to Romania for the first time since 1986 from the Moldovan electric power plant, the source said.

"Recently, we signed a contract with Romania on the supply of 70-90 megawatts of electricity from the Moldovan electric power plant, and the contract stipulates a possibility to build up these supplies, the source said.

The source said Inter RAO UES, which is a subsidiary of Russia's electricity monopoly Unified Energy System (UES), had signed the contract for the term of twelve months but declined to specify the price of the deal and electricity transit rates.

The contract is a very important step towards using the potential of Inter RAO UES in the most efficient way, the source said.