● MONDAY, September 11

Average consumer prices down 0.1%

The average consumer prices in August decreased by 0.1% on July. The decline was marked by the about 0.8% decrease in food prices.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the prices of vegetables in August declined by 8.7%, of fruit – by 1.5%, of sugar – by 1.1%, of vegetal oil – by 1.0%. The price of hen eggs in the period grew yet by 17.2%.

EU offers €13 million to help Moldova overcome energy crisis

The European Union will invest €13 million to help the Republic of Moldova to overcome the energy crisis and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

The Ministry of Energy said the “Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova” program, implemented by UNDP, helped the Republic of Moldova to overcome the energy crisis the past two years by creating a system of subsides for 800,000 energy vulnerable families. In the long run, the program supported the transposition of the most important European directives in the energy sector and implemented pilot programs to reduce energy consumption. Later, these will be taken over by the Energy Efficiency Agency.

Less gas consumed last month than in August last year

The amount of natural gas consumed this past August was 16.5 million cubic meters, which is about 36.6% less compared to August of last year, according to Moldovagaz. Compared to July, consumption increased by 0.5 million cubic meters, or 3%.

As of August 31, household consumers paid 98.7% of the amounts billed in 2023, which is by 0.1 point less compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, non-household consumers paid 97.4% of their bills, or by 2.3 points less.

● TUESDAY, September 12

In several months, natural gas change will drop under 13 lei, energy expert

Energy expert Sergiu Tofilat, a member of the Supervisory Board of SA “Moldovagaz”, considers that the natural gas charge in several months will fall under 13 lei. According to him, the charge will be decreased before the heating season and then again in January.

● WEDNESDAY, September 13

For gas charge to be 13 lei, purchase price of gas should be twice lower than current price

Moldovagaz CEO Vadim Ceban said that for the natural gas charge for costumers to fall under 13 lei, the gas should be purchased at a price that would be twice lower than the current one. More exactly, 1,000 cubic meters of gas should cost about US$350, as opposed to the average price of US$768 paid during the first eight months of this year.

Greek company wins tender contest to purchase natural gas

The tender contest to buy natural gas held on September 5 was won by the Greek company DEPA Commercial SA. According to SA Energocom, the quantity of gas will be stored so as cover a significant part of the gas needed by Moldova in winter.

● THURSDAY, September 14

Farmers who cultivated sunflower will also get Romanian diesel fuel

Farmers who cultivated sunflower in 2022 and were affected by drought will be eligible to receive foreign assistance in the form of diesel fuel.

Authorities intend to build a new terminal at Airport

The passenger flow at the Chisinau International Airport will increase over the next few years from 3 million at present to 5 million, as Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu forecasts. The official said that a new terminal is needed given the expected developments.

Andrei Spînu presents plan for reconstructing Moldova’s infrastructure

Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu presented a plan for reconstructing Moldova’s infrastructure in a news conference. “It’s time to roll up our sleeves and during the next two years implement projects that will fundamentally change the way in which the country looks. Moldova will be European not only in words,” said the official.

To cope with competition, small producers should unite, minister

In the Republic of Moldova, there are five-six landowners possessing 40,000 to 60,000 hectares of arable land and these business entities are also agricultural exporters and the small farmers are therefore in competition with these, said Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea. According to him, the owners of agricultural holdings are exclusively legal entities of Moldova.

● FRIDAY, September 15

Dumitru Alaiba: 95% of former patentees switched over to another form of activity

Some 95% of the former patent holders switched over to independent activity or another form of activity, such as LTD (Limited Liability Company) or IE (Individual Enterprise), Minister of Economic Development and Digitization Dumitru Alaiba told a news conference.

Moldovatransgaz fined 34 million lei

SRL Moldovatransgaz was fined 34 million lei by the National Agency for Energy Regulation for not fulfilling the legal obligation to ensure its independence from the vertically integrated natural gas company SA Moldovagaz, which was authorized to supply natural gas.

Moldova-Ukraine agreement on liberalization of freight transport extended

The agreement on the liberalization of freight transport between Moldova and Ukraine was prolonged until the end of 2025. The document allows for bilateral road and transit transport without special authorizations. The decision was approved in the meeting of the joint Moldovan-Ukrainian commission on international road transport which was held in a videoconference format.

Medical tourism in 2022 generated US$50m incomes

About 30,000 foreigners chose to receive treatment at medical clinics and institutions of Moldova in 2022. They generated US$50 million incomes, by 30% more than in 2021, Minister of Economic Development and Digitization Dumitru Alaiba stated in the International Medical Tourism Forum.

Farmers can ask for subsidies in advance and for post-investment subsidies

As from next week, farmers can file applications to receive post-investment subsidies. Applications will be accepted until November 16. Also from September 18 until November 16, the farmers can apply for subsidies in advance.