The contract with Russia’s gas giant Gazprom for the supply of natural gas to the Republic of Moldova will be extended for three years. The agreement is to be signed by the sides on December 21, stated Deputy Prime Minister Octavian Calmac, Minister of Economy, quoted by IPN.

In a news conference on December 20, Octavian Calmac said the request to extend the contract was made to Gazprom in the November meeting of the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission. “As regards the price of the supplied gas, this will be floating. What we can say is that we have an international conjuncture where the import prices of natural gas decline,” stated the minister.

Confirming the statements of his colleague, Deputy Minister of Economy Valeriu Triboi said that in the first quarter of this year Moldova purchased natural gas from Gazprom for US$223 per 1,000 cubic meters. The average price for the whole year will be about US$190. The price for the first quarter of next year will be known on January 15, 2017.

Speaking about other events that marketed the energy sector in 2016, Octavian Calmac said a number of feasibility studies concerning the interconnections with the EU in the energy, electricity and gas sectors were carried out, including the one for the construction of the Ungheni – Chisinau gas pipeline.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that for the first time they managed to stop the accumulation of current debts to the gas supplier and this is an accomplishment. They continue to look for solutions to repay the historical debts.

Octavian Calmaca approved of the projects to increase energy efficiency supported by the EIB and other foreign donors. These helped improve the energy efficiency of 34 public buildings. The Energy Efficiency Fund has allocated 80 million lei for implementing these projects, while the Energy and Biomass Project implemented in Moldova with European funds contributed about 100 million lei for increasing energy efficiency.