● MONDAY, October 3
Energocom obtains license from Romania’s ANRE, can purchase natural gas from Romanian market
The joint stock company Energocom obtained a license from the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) and can buy or sell natural gas on the market of Romania. Also, Energocom was registered on the Regional Booking Platform and can access gas storage facilities in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. According to him, Moldelectrica signed an agreement with Transelectrica Romania for the emergency supply of electrical energy in case of necessity.
Trade unions suggest minimum salary should be at least 5,000 lei in 2023
The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova proposes that the minimum salary as from January 1, 2023 should be at least 5,000 lei. The proposal was formulated in the meeting of the national commission for collective consultations and negotiations.
● Tuesday, October 4
Humanitarian crisis can be triggered in Transnistrian region, opinions
The Russian gas giant Gazprom can anytime terminate the contract with the Republic of Moldova but it does not do it as it can trigger a humanitarian crisis in the Transnistrian region, said energy expert Victor Parlicov. For his part, the expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ioniță said that to avoid such a gloomy scenario, if the gas supplies are fully halted by Gazprom, the official Chisinau should buy gas from the market and offer it to the left bank, while the population should have the gas rate partially subsidized.
Romanian PM: We can offer Moldova 5 million cubic meter of gas a day at the most
The Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said that Romania can offer the Republic of Moldova 5 million cubic meters of gas a day but not more. “When I discussed with Premier Gavrilița, we considered 150 million cubic meters. We need to see what other amounts we can provide in the immediate period as we currently have over 86-87% of the stores filled and if we manage to sign contracts for winter so as to maintain a balance in the system and have the necessary volumes during the days with low temperatures, we can provide gas,” Nicolae Ciucă stated for the Romanian press.
Macon plant conserves production but doesn’t cease operations
The building materials manufacturer Macon didn’t fully cease operations and continues selling products from its stores, said Minister of Economy Sergiu Gaibu. He noted that the plant conserved production for several months, as it does each year. A bill was drafted to deal with the competition discrepancy caused by the differences in energy prices.
Support line for Automated Information System “Electronic Monitoring of Sales”
There was launched a support line for the Automated Information System “Electronic Monitoring of Sales”. Taxpayers can use the telephone number 022-822-012 to obtain information about the method of connecting to the system and the fiscalization of cash registers.
Modification of formula for calculating purchase price of gas will not lead to lower gas rates
The modification of the formula for calculating the purchase price of the gas supplied by SAP Gazprom to SA Moldovagaz will not lead to lower gas rates for end users. The National Agency for Energy Regulation said the impact of the change was already included in the structure of regulated prices approved for a calendar year. According to the Agency, in accordance with the contract signed by Moldovagaz and Gazprom, the purchase price of gas is set monthly depending on the indictors on the Dutch gas trading platform TTF and the mixture of oil products.
Piero Leone, Italian businessman: Fruit in Moldova is of a very high quality
The plums, apples and apricots in the Republic of Moldova are of a very high quality, said Italian businessman Piero Leone. He expressed his interest in cooperating with Moldovan producers so that Moldovan dried fruits and juices made from Moldova fruit reach Italy. The businessman admitted that as the Russian market was the main market for Moldovan fruit, the European businessmen didn’t know about the high quality of the Moldovan products.
Humanitarian crisis can be triggered in Transnistrian region, opinions
The Russian gas giant Gazprom can anytime terminate the contract with the Republic of Moldova but it does not do it as it can trigger a humanitarian crisis in the Transnistrian region, said energy expert Victor Parlicov. For his part, the expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ioniță said that to avoid such a gloomy scenario, if the gas supplies are fully halted by Gazprom, the official Chisinau should buy gas from the market and offer it to the left bank, while the population should have the gas rate partially subsidized.
Romanian PM: We can offer Moldova 5 million cubic meter of gas a day at the most
The Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said that Romania can offer the Republic of Moldova 5 million cubic meters of gas a day but not more. “When I discussed with Premier Gavrilița, we considered 150 million cubic meters. We need to see what other amounts we can provide in the immediate period as we currently have over 86-87% of the stores filled and if we manage to sign contracts for winter so as to maintain a balance in the system and have the necessary volumes during the days with low temperatures, we can provide gas,” Nicolae Ciucă stated for the Romanian press.
Macon plant conserves production but doesn’t cease operations
The building materials manufacturer Macon didn’t fully cease operations and continues selling products from its stores, said Minister of Economy Sergiu Gaibu. He noted that the plant conserved production for several months, as it does each year. A bill was drafted to deal with the competition discrepancy caused by the differences in energy prices.
Support line for Automated Information System “Electronic Monitoring of Sales”
There was launched a support line for the Automated Information System “Electronic Monitoring of Sales”. Taxpayers can use the telephone number 022-822-012 to obtain information about the method of connecting to the system and the fiscalization of cash registers.
Modification of formula for calculating purchase price of gas will not lead to lower gas rates
The modification of the formula for calculating the purchase price of the gas supplied by SAP Gazprom to SA Moldovagaz will not lead to lower gas rates for end users. The National Agency for Energy Regulation said the impact of the change was already included in the structure of regulated prices approved for a calendar year.
●Wednesday, October 5
Registration of families on compensatii.gov.md to start next week
The authorities plan next week to start the registration of families on the platform compensatii.gov.md for classifying them into a vulnerability category and offering them subsidies for electricity and heat. There will be four energy vulnerability categories – very high, high, medium and low vulnerability. The size of the subsidy will be decided in November, after the number of households and their classification will be clearer, said Minister of Labor and Social Protection Marcel Spatari.
NAER increases price of electricity supplied by Energocom
The price of the electrical energy delivered by the central power supplier SA Energocom will be 4.33 lei/kWh (without VAT), by 1.09 lei/kWh more than the current price, as the Administration Board of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) decided on Wednesday.
Gazprom tries to place Chisinau in front of dilemma, expert
The Russian company Gazprom does not seem determined to terminate the contract with the Republic of Moldova as it has had the legal right to do this since May, when the audit to determine the historical debts of Moldovagaz was to be finalized. Energy expert Victor Parlicov said that Gazprom does not want to assume responsibility, including political one, for an eventual humanitarian crisis on the left side of the Nistru and wants to shift this onto Chisinau as the 5.7 million cubic meters of natural gas supplied by Gazprom in October are sufficient for the right side of the Nistru during the cold period of the year.
Employers that set up crèches at workplace could receive state support
The employers that will develop alternative childcare services at the workplace, intended for employees’ children, could have the incurred costs covered by the state. A legislative proposal provides that these payments will be of up to 2,500 lei a month for each child under three. The legislative proposal was put forward by the head of the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family Dan Perciun. According to him, the proposal is based on other states’ successful practices of creating family friendly workplaces.
Public finance management framework for next three years approved
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the medium-term budgetary framework based on which the annual budget is to be thought up. It is estimated that the national economy in 2023-2025 will return to an upward trend, but at slower paces than it was anticipated earlier. In 2023, the growth rate will be 1.5%, in 2024 – 3.6%, while in 2025 – 4.2%.
Employees of IT Park will be able to work from abroad
Residents of the IT Park will be able to work remotely, regardless of the location of their employees. The Cabinet today approved amendments to the Law on Information Technology Parks to this effect. “The changes are being made in order to maintain the current business in the Republic of Moldova, the workforce within the IT companies, but also to legally relocate to Moldova foreign companies that for reasons related to what is happening in the region cannot continue their business in their countries of residence”, the draft states.
● Thursday, October 6
Two suppliers seek higher electricity charges
Two suppliers that serve customers in central, southern and northern Moldova asked the National Agency for Energy Regulation to increase the electricity charges. In its application, “Premier Energy” requested to raise the charge to almost 3.24 lei lei/kWh without VAT, up from 2.64 lei/kWh at present, as from October 1. The company argued that the selling price of electrical energy from the central supplier shows the increase should be of 34%. It also made reference to the growing purchase prices of electricity and to the exchange rate.
Moldova to supply 100 tonnes of apples to India
The Republic of Moldova this month will deliver 100 tonnes of apples to India on a trial basis, before applying for an export authorization. The possibility of facilitating the export of Moldovan agricultural products to India, especially of apples and dried fruit, and the inclusion of Moldova in the Plant Quarantine Order were discussed by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița and the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Moldova, with residence in Bucharest, Rahul Shrivastava. The officials also conferred on the strengthening of the Moldovan-Indian economic cooperation and of the bilateral diplomatic relations.
LEADER: From rural development method to National Program
Entrepreneurs, farmers and the local authorities on Thursday and Wednesday are taking part in a conference that presents the results of the LEADER approach in the Republic of Moldova, from the rural development method to a LEADER National Program. This is the EU’s initiative aimed at addressing problems faced in rural areas and at boosting local economic growth. In the opening of the event, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița noted that regional development is a priority for the Government.
National Plum Festival added to list of Moldova holidays
On each third Sunday of September, Moldova will celebrate the National Plum Festival, after Parliament voted to amend an official list of national observances.
● Friday, October 7
Natalia Gavrilița about possibility of a half in gas supplies: This risk persists
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița confirmed there is a risk that Gazprom will fully stop the natural gas supplies to Moldova but noted that such a scenario will be generated not by the violation of the contract provisions but by the fact that Moldova condemns the war in Ukraine alongside the international community. The officially assured that Moldova is ready to cope with a halt in gas supplies.
Fuel prices higher for next three days
The National Agency for Energy Regulation set higher price ceilings for fuel products of the standard type for the next three days, October 8-10. Gasoline COR 95 will be sold for at most 24.57 lei a liter, up 0.14 lei on today, while diesel fuel will cost at most 26.38 lei, up 0.32 lei.
CES orders to release 8,000 tonnes of crude oil from state reserves
A quantity of 8,000 tonnes of crude oil will be released from the state reserves for SA Termoelectrica, as the Commission for Exceptional Situations decided in a move to optimize natural gas consumption after Gazprom reduced the supplied amounts.
People adapt to shocks and repay bank loans
Despite the unprecedented crises the past two years, such as the pandemic, the augmentation of the interest rate and the war in Ukraine, the private individuals who took out loans from banks fulfill their obligations. They needed about three months to adjust to the new conditions and the loans are now repaid on time, said economic expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ioniță. According to him, the measures to discourage lending taken by the authorities serve no useful purpose as the population has to now borrow from the informal sector.
● Saturday, October 8
Official reserve assets topped $4.2 billion at end of September
As of the end of September, the official reserve assets constituted $4.227 billion, by $45.17 million compared to August 30, the National Bank reported.
Romanian ambassador highlights importance of deepening partnerships at Invest Gagauzia Forum
Speaking at the Invest Gagauzia Forum, Romania’s Ambassador to Moldova Cristian-Leon Țurcanu highlighted at the importance of deepening partnerships with Western economies and the need to ensure an investment climate as safe and predictable as possible in order to attract more foreign investments that contribute to economic growth and new jobs. “The efforts and projects promoted by the Association of Romanian Investors in the Republic of Moldova have already brought remarkable results and are a good guide for other potential investors from Romania”, noted the Romanian ambassador.
