Twenty-seven oil companies in Moldova raised the prices of oil products with deviations from the legislation. The violations were identified by the National Agency for Energy Regulation and presented in a meeting on May 30. The Agency is to work out prescriptions for removing the identified irregularities, IPN reports.

According to the Agency, the 27 companies increased the prices on May 23. Thus, the price of gasoline rose by 0.60 lei per liter on average, while of diesel fuel – by about 1 leu per liter.

Also, the companies that weren’t notified by the Agency must inform it during three days about the rises that occurred during May 20-30 so that it could identify all the operators that committed irregularities. In the near future, all the license holders are to be informed about the effects of the non-observance of the legislation.

The Agency’s director Sergiu Ciobanu said that the maximal profit margins on the sale of the main oil predicts and liquefied petroleum gas will be published on the institution’s website on May 31. The highest price will be set in accordance with the new oil prices formation methodology that took effect on May 13 this year. Thus, for gasoline and diesel fuel the ceiling will be 3.16 lei per liter, while for liquefied petroleum gas – 2.99 lei.

Sergiu Ciobanu noted the institution will carry out inspections at gas stations starting with June 1. “From Wednesday evening, the prices posted at service stations must be in accordance with the prices set by the Agency. Inspections will be performed to determine if the prices coincide with the announced ceiling,” he stated.  According to him, the companies that will not comply will be penalized and can remain without license.

The new methodology provides that the highest prices will be set once in two weeks.