The National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) will raise the average gas tariff for end-users for the fourth quarter of this year by 23.2% even if the gas supplier demanded a 28.8% increase. After the decision was announced, Alexandr Gusev, chairman of the Administration Board of Moldovagaz, said they do not agree with it and will challenge it in court, Info-Prim Neo reports. Moldovagaz asked that the average gas tariff be raised from 4 599 lei per 1 000 cubic meters to 5 922 lei, arguing the yearly purchase price of Russian gas was increased. The ANRE analyzed the calculations done by Moldovagaz and accepted a 23.2% increase. According to specialists of the Agency, the given rise will enable the supplier to earn revenues of 2.12 billion lei in the fourth quarter and to work in normal conditions and duly pay for the gas supplied by Gazprom to Moldova. Thus, the average gas tariff will be 5 664 lei per 1 000 cubic meters, by 1 065 lei higher compared with the current charge. “We are surprised that the ANRE did not take into account the technological losses incurred. We think that 2% losses for such worn pipes used for 30 - 40 years is an unreal figure. Moreover, the number of thefts of gas has increased. We worked out a plan to reduce the losses during 10 years, but it would be hard to obtain the parameters set by the ANRE even in five years,” said Alexandr Gusev. ANRE director general Victor Parlicov said that Moldovagaz has skilled personnel who should identify the gas thefts and inform the competent bodies, but these losses cannot be put on consumers’ shoulders. Investments that were not specified in the company’s investment plan approved by the Agency cannot be included in the tariff. In the same meeting, the ANRE set the gas transportation tariff for the fourth quarter at 20.9 lei per 1 000 cubic meters, which is by 5.15 lei lower than the current tariffs. The gas distribution tariff was decreased from 590.87 lei per 1 000 cubic meters to 559.92 lei. The gas tariffs for categories of end-users will be announced in an additional meeting later this week.