By the end of this month, Gazprom will announce the purchase price of natural gas for the Republic of Moldova for 2017. Judging by the international trends, the price should be lower than last year, said Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac, quoted by IPN.

Last year the price was of US$176 per thousand cubic meters of gas.

“The price is calculated based on the formula defined in the contract signed with Gazprom. A basket of energy resources is taken into account and the evolution of the prices of these resources is followed during the past nine months,” explained the minister.

Asked if a possible reduction in the purchase price of gas could lead to a reduction in the tariffs for end-users, Octavian Calmac said it is premature to pronounce.

“We should first see how much the purchase price is decreased. On the other hand, we should not forget that SA Moldovagaz during the last few years witnessed negative deviations that, as we know, are included in the tariff for end-users. If there is room for reductions after these are calculated, the National Agency for Energy Regulation will be obliged to review the gas tariffs for end-users,” stated the minister.

Moldova signed a four-year contract for the supply of natural gas with Gazprom in 2007. When this expired, the contract was extended for several times, the last time for three years, until 2019.