If the current purchase price of gas is maintained, the rate for end-users could be revised and raised to 14.6 lei, said Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu. According to him, the preliminary calculations show that if the price at which Gazprom sells gas remains high, Moldovagaz will have to ask for a rise in gate rates. But the new rates will be later revised again as gas prices at stock exchanges have declined, IPN reports.
Andrei Spînu said that preliminary calculations have been done and a rise in gas rates will be inevitable if the purchase price of gas in February remains US$646 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. However, the trends on the stock market are downward.
“We expect the purchase price of gas in February will be US$450 or US$430, but the market is unpredictable and we cannot know for sure. We should therefore make statements after January 20, when we will know the approximate purchase price for February. Depending on this, Moldovagaz will do the calculations,” Andrei Spînu stated in the program “The Fourth Estate” on N4 TV channel.
Even if he earlier said that the gas rates should be set for a period of 14 months so as to ensure predictability for the citizens and the business community, now Andrei Spînu said that if the rates are raised, they will be later reviewed again.
“The preliminary calculations show the rate will be 14.6 lei if the current purchase price is maintained. But there is good news as stock market gas prices have decreased the past few days. Normally, this price of US$646 should not repeat as winter goes and gas consumption on the European market is expected to decline in the immediate period. Therefore, the price should go down. Even if the rates are adjusted, they will be applied during a short period, of one-two months, so as to make sure that the current payments to Gazprom are made,” stated Andrei Spînu.
According to Moldovagaz, the purchase price of the natural gas supplied by Gazprom in January is US$646 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. The rise is due to the higher gas quotations on stock exchanges. The gas rate for end-users in Moldova is now 11.08 lei with VAT included.
