“Moldovagaz” warns residents of a new increase in gas tariffs

KISINAU, 1 September – RIA Novosti. Moldovagaz is preparing a new gas tariff increase request to the Moldovan National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), declaration Head of corporate Vadim Cheban on Thursday.

Earlier, Cheban said that in September the cost of Russian gas for Moldova will rise to $1,882.78 per thousand cubic meters.

“Moldovagaz JSC” is in the process of consulting with ANRE on the amendments and additions to the Regulation on natural gas supply and pricing principles based on the amendments proposed by the regulator in the methodology for calculating the natural gas tariff. The issue of submitting a new application for updating tariffs on the Telegram channel will be discussed at one of the next meetings of the company’s board of directors, Cheban said.

The head of JSC “Moldovagaz” also noted that from October 1, the formula for calculating the cost of gas will change.

“70% of the price will be based on the cost of petroleum products (gas oil and fuel oil) and 30% – based on stock prices,” Cheban said.

In early August, the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) increased the natural gas tariff for consumers from 18.62 lei per cubic meter to 23 lei per cubic meter (dollar exchange rate 19.3 lei per dollar), including VAT. ANRE has moved on from its average purchase price in 2022 of $899 per thousand cubic metres. At the same time, the price of gas from Gazprom in August was $ 1,458.5.

After lengthy negotiations, Gazprom and Moldovagaz extended the gas supply contract on October 29 for five years, starting from November 1. Gazprom, strictly adhering to the terms specified in the contract, insisted on by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu, determined a formula for determining the purchase price, which began to take into account the current situation in the spot market in European countries. Chisinau believed that this would allow the republic to save more, but the situation in the market has changed a lot, as a result the price of gas for end consumers in the republic has almost quadrupled since last year.

In November, Moldova had problems with the timely transfer of payments, a delay was required. In January, JSC “Moldovagaz” again faced difficulties in repaying the payment to Gazprom, the parliament declared a state of emergency for 60 days. Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov expressed fears that the non-payment crisis could recur in the future.