The high fuel prices seriously strike the agricultural producers and carriers. Furthermore, the rise in gasoline and diesel fuel tariffs will result in rises in the prices of different products. Such opinions were stated in the program “Direct access” on NTV Moldova channel, IPN reports.
Civic activist Sergiu Ungureanu said the average fuel price seriously affects agricultural producers and carriers. Additionally, when fuel prices are raised, it is known that the prices of bread, milk and other products also increase. In the current conditions, the National Agency for Energy Regulation is put in the situation to attract all the public dissatisfaction to it. “A game between different branches of power takes place here. It’s clear that this should not happen and we said that we should see how the capping regulations were worked out and should change them,” stated the activist.
Socialist MP Grigore Novac said the state has sufficient instruments to regulate fuel prices, regardless of the fluctuations in the prices of fuels on international market. The excise duty on gasoline in 2009 was 1,800 lei per tonne, while on diesel fuel – 750 lei per tonne. Now the excise duty per tonne of gasoline is 4,961 lei, while per tonne of diesel fuel – 2,092 lei. “It is a huge figure that was raised artificially. If we do some calculations – since 2009 until now, the excise duty per tonne rose three times. The average official salary was 3,140 lei, but now is 6,150 lei. So, the gasoline prices rose three times, while the salary two time,” noted the MP.
On May 29, the National Agency for Energy Regulation announced higher fuel price ceilings. As a result, motorists, mobilized through social networking sites, mounted two protests even if the Agency on June 1 restored the previous price ceilings at the request of Prime Minister Pavel Filip. On June 12, the Buiucani branch of the Court of Chisinau suspended the Agency’s new order that envisioned higher fuel price ceilings issued earlier the same day. On June 13, the Agency informed that the price ceilings will be 19.15 lei per liter of gasoline and 17.09 lei per liter of diesel fuel, which are the same as those announced on May 15.
