● MONDAY, March 18
Moldova to purchase more expensive electric power from April 1
The average purchase price of electric power as of April 1 will be 54.2 USD/MWh, up 2% compared with the current price. The volume of electricity needed by the distribution company will be 85% supplied by Energocom from the Cuchurgan Power Plant at the price of 52.4 $/MWh and 15% from “DTEK Pavlogradugoli” of Ukraine at the price of 64.4 $/MWh. According to Gas Natural Fenosa, the process of contracting electric power for 01.04.2019 - 31.03.2020 is over. At the final stage of the tender contest, two potential suppliers, the Cuchurgan Power Plant (“CERS Moldovenească”) and “DTEK Pavlogradugoli” withdrew from the contest, presenting their bids to Energocom, with the latter taking part directly in the last winner deciding meeting. As a result of the held negotiations, the initial bid presented by Energocom was improved. The average purchase price for April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019 is 5.24 USD cent/kWh.
Sowing of wheat, pea, rape and sugar beet under way
The farmers started the spring agricultural works. Over the past few days, the farmland has been sowed with wheat, pea, rape and sugar beet. Vasile Şarban, division head at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, has told IPN that immediately after the period of late spring frost of the first and second decades of April is over, the farmers could sow corn, sunflower and potatoes. Vasile Şarban noted the moisture reserve in soil is now sufficient. Reasons for concern will appear if the temperatures vary around 20 degrees Celsius during several days in a row.
Shares in Moldindconbank bought
The Bulgarian company Doverie-Invest, which obtained the National Bank of Moldova’s prior permission, purchased the undividable holding of 3 173 751 shares of the bank of systemic importance Moldindconbank for 764,048,815.74 lei at an outcry auction held on the regulated market of the Stock Exchange on March 18. According to the Public Property Agency, the transaction will end on March 22, in accordance with the regulated market’s rules concerning the organization and holding of transactions with undividable shareholdings. The 63.89% shareholding was sold at the initial price of 240.74 lei apiece.
Natural gas tariffs should be adjusted, expert
Energy expert Ion Preaşcă said particular development show the natural gas tariffs should be adjusted. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the expert, when asked about the rise in the price of gas imported from Russia, said last year this increased by almost one third and the deviation of 5% included in the tariff calculation methodology was exceeded. According to Ion Preaşcă, the tariff for consumers should be adjusted gradually so as to avoid the situation of 2015, when a sudden rise was needed and this negatively affected the population. As to the fact that Moldovagaz hasn’t yet requested to increase the tariffs for end-users even if the import prices rose, the expert said Moldovagaz is somehow controlled indirectly and depends on particular political factors and this refers not only to Moldovagaz, but also to the National Agency for Energy Regulation.
Carriers penalized for illegal transportation of passengers in international traffic
Fifteen carriers were fined and another 12 were left without license plates as a result of inspections carried out at the border crossing points Leușeni, Sculeni and Costești in the evening of March 17. The carriers were penalized for illegally transporting passengers in international traffic. According to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, fines totaling almost 120,000 lei were imposed as a result of the checks. In 12 cases, the right to use the motor vehicle was suspended by confiscating the license plates and the registration certificate for a period of six months.
● TUESDAY, March 19
Two arrested on tax evasion, fraud charges
Two suspects have been arrested, and two others are being questioned in a case of tax evasion and fraud. The case involves two firms registered in the Transnistrian region and their managers are being accused of submitting false tax returns and failing to pay over 3 million lei in value added tax. The Special Matters Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release the managers filed fraudulently for VAT refunds and obtained them after bribing a tax inspector. Prosecutors together with intelligence officers today carried out searches at the homes of the suspects, at their offices and at the office of the tax inspector. The suspects now face multiple criminal charges, the most serious of which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Chisinau signs Solar Mayors Charter
Mayors from eight countries, including Moldova, signed a declaration resolving to promote solar energy installations in their cities. Called the Solar Mayors Charter, the initiative was launched at an international forum that took place in Lisbon during March 18 and 19. According to a press release from UNDP Moldova, the event is part of an initiative aimed to connect local governments, civic actors, private sector and citizens around clean energy production and financing. “The achievement of SDG 7, affordable and clean energy is hardly achievable without consistent engagement with mayors, citizens and private sector. This is the reason why UNDP Moldova, in partnership with other countries, has launched the Solar Mayors Club, where mayors have signed a charter to commit to solar energy transition,” said Dumitru Vasilescu, UNDP Moldova Policy Analyst.
Electricity providers seek higher rates
The electricity providers Gas Natural Fenosa Furnizare Energie and Furnizare Energie Nord are asking the National Energy Regulatory Agency to slightly increase rates for consumers. GNF Furnizare Energie is proposing a rate of 1.3425 leu for a kilowatt hour (kWh) for consumers connected to high voltage lines, from the current 1.34leu/kWh; a rate of 1.6125 leu/kWh for medium voltage consumers, from the current 1.6 leu/kW; and a rate of 1.802 leu/kWh for household, low voltage consumers, from the current 1.79 leu/kWh. Furnizare Energie Nord is requesting a rate of 1.8525 leu/kWh for medium voltage consumers, from the current 1.66 leu/kWh; and a rate of 2.0925 leu/kWh for household consumers, compared to the current 1.91 leu/kWh. Last time electricity rates were adjusted on 15 June 2018, when they dropped by 10% on average.
● WEDNESDAY, March 20
Excess Moldovan grapes might be retailed in Romania
Agriculture Minister Nicolae Ciubuc says he has been in contact with Romanian partners in a bid to place some of last year’s overabundant grape harvest with retailers in the neighboring country. However, the minister says it’s hard to find a quick solution. An inventory has been made of all grape amounts currently kept in cooler storages, and the discussions held with Romania are among the solutions on the table. “But we should understand that the quality of grapes might be a problem if want them to be marketed as fresh produce”, said the minister. Discussions will be continued to retail the excess grapes domestically, too, the minister added.
New Chisinau-Verona airline route to be launched mid-June
Wizz Air is launching a route from Moldova’s capital Chisinau to Verona in Italy on June 15, the Hungarian low-coster announced in a press release. Flights will be operated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with fares starting at 35 euros one way. Wizz Air started operations from the Chisinau International Airport in 2013. The new route will be Wizz Air’s fifth to Italy from Chisinau after services to Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice. Flights to Verona from Chisinau are also offered at present by Air Moldova, Fly One (Moldova) and IG Meridiana (Italia).
Report measures transparency in Moldova’s state-owned companies
The companies Centrul de Telecomunicatii Speciale, MoldATSA, Moldpres and Casa Presei are the most transparent state-owned enterprises in Moldova. On the opposite side are the State Railway Construction Company "Confercai", the Department for the Exploitation of Real Properties and the publishing company Tipografia Centrala. These are the findings of a report compiled by IDIS Viitorul and the Slovakian think-tank INEKO and presented today at a conference in Chisinau. “The Republic of Moldova is going through a period of reform and, in this context, the Public Enterprises Transparency Monitoring Report, based on a Slovak methodology, brings more clarity in the public domain,” said Liubomir Chiriac, executive director of IDIS Viitorul.
5G technology tested at presentation event
5G technology has been tested in Moldova during a presentation event organized by a mobile operator. According to Moldovan authorities, when the fifth generation networks are fully rolled out in our country in 2020m data transfer speeds will increase greatly as will response times. The Ministry of Economy said in a press release that the 5G strategy of the Orange Group focuses on three components: improved high-speed mobile broadband, high-speed fixed broadband access and new applications to support the digital transformation of different business sectors.
● THURSDAY, March 21
Collectors for large e-waste to be installed in Chisinau
Eight metallic dumpsters for the collection of large e-waste will be installed in Chisinau as part of the project “Clean city with recycled e-waste”. The collectors will be installed on the premises of fuel stations, in places easily accessible by car. These eight collectors will complete the list of 71 collection points for small and medium e-waste already installed in Chisinau. According to Aurelia Bahnaru, head of the Association for Salvaging Waste and manager of project, the eight new collectors are meant for TV sets, fridges, washing machines and other large equipments. As regards the smaller e-waste collection points, Aurelia Bahnaru explained that the waste is sorted by an operator, then sent abroad for correct recycling, without illegal storage or contamination of the water and soil, as Moldova lacks the necessary infrastructure. The project involves schools, markets and public institutions. The organizers want to find 10 more institutions to join the project.
Repair works underway on road between Giurgiulesti and Reni border crossings
Repair works on the road between the Giurgiulesti and Reni border crossing points will start this Friday, March 22. The repairs will take 8 days, during which only one lane will be open to cars. A press release of the Customs Service recommends cargo transporters to choose one of the Vulcanesti-Vinogradovka or Mirnoe-Tabaki customs if they have goods that need to pass veterinary or sanitary control. The repairs are carried out within the project of modernization of the joint customs points Giurgiulesti-Reni and Cuciurgan-Pervomaisk at the border with Ukraine.
● FRIDAY, March 22
American businesspersons to analyze investment platforms in Chisinau
A group of United States businesspersons visiting Moldova in April will analyze the investment platforms offered by Moldova. This was announced by U.S. Ambassador Dereck J. Hogan at a meeting with Moldovan Economy Minister Chiril Gaburici. “Attracting foreign direct investment into our economy remains a priority for the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, and this visit will allow us to present opportunities for profitable investment in industry, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and IT. At the same time, we would like to borrow the United States’ experience in developing businesses and inspire ourselves from the success stories of American businesspersons so as to apply some of the practices here in Moldova”, Minister Gaburici was quoted by a press release as saying.
IMF team to visit Moldova next week
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team will visit Chișinău during March 25-29. It will be led by Ruben Atoyan, IMF Mission Chief for Moldova. IMF Resident Representative Volodymyr Tulin said in a press release this will be a fact-finding mission to update on recent economic developments and discuss the authorities’ policies to maintain macroeconomic and fiscal stability. Such staff visits are standard practice in program cases outside of the formal cycle of program reviews, added Volodymyr Tulin.
Resource platform to be launched for entrepreneurs engaged in foreign trade
All the information that an entrepreneur engaged in foreign trade could need will be available on an integrated resource platform. By offering the platform, the Customs Service is fulfilling one of the commitments of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement as well as of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. The new platform, developed with the support of the USAID-funded Moldova Structural Reform Program, is expected to be operational in June. The portal will integrate legal, economic, statistical and organizational information concerning export, import and transit operations as well as other information relevant to foreign trade. Specifically, users will be able to find information on customs regimes and destinations, declaration procedures, classification of goods, permits, and taxes and duties for all groups of goods.
Central bank issues new set of coins
The National Bank of Moldova has issued a new set of coins with nominal face values of 1, 2, 5 and 10 lei. Although mainly intended for collectors, they can be used as legal tender at their face value. The set of metallic coins comes in an enclosed folder and was minted in 5,000 copies. The set will be marketed through licensed commercial banks. Banks are free to fix their own prices for the set, which however must not be greater than the maximum of 135 lei fixed by the National Bank plus 3 percent.
Mobile telephony revenues dropped last year
In 2018, revenues from mobile telephony services dropped by 187 million lei, or down by 5.6% on the previous year, and totalled over 3.1 billion lei, the national telecommunications regulatory agency ARCETI reported. The number of users also dropped by 1.9% to roughly 4.3 million. The monthly average revenue per user was 72.7 lei. The voice traffic volume reported by Orange increased by 0.4%, in the Unite networks by 10.1%, and Moldcell reported a drop by 5.6%.
