The National Agency for Energy Regulation said there are no reasons for raising the natural gas tariffs for end users given that the operator SA Moldovagaz made no such requests. The comment was made after the press reported that Gazprom increased the price of natural gas supplied to Moldova, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Agency said that for the tariffs to be adjusted, SA Moldovagaz should present the relevant calculations with plausible arguments. Also, under the law on natural gas, the administration board of the Agency is obliged to examine the applications concerning the basic costs, prices and regulated tariffs within 180 calendar days of the registration of the application.

The press reported that the price of natural gas supplied to Moldova by the Russian company Gazprom for the first quarter of this year is US$237.46 per 1,000 cubic meters, up 25% compared with the import price in the corresponding period last year.