The Speaker of Parliament criticized Moldovagaz after its chief Vadim Ceban said that the National Agency for Energy Regulation increased the natural gas rate insufficiently and the purchase price of gas is not covered. Igor Grosu said those from Moldovagaz should act in the interests of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and should come with solutions for overcoming the crisis not only with proposals to increase the rate, IPN reports.
Recently, the National Agency for Energy Regulation increased the natural gas rate to 18.61 lei per cubic meter of gas. The head of Moldovagaz later noted that the gas rate should be further adjusted up as the new rate does not cover the gas purchase costs. Vadim Ceban said the purchase price of gas in June is US$880 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas.
“I want to see solutions from Moldovagaz, not only monthly requests to increase the rates. For now, only the Government intervenes and saves the situation. Moldovagaz is part of Gazprom and should make slight effort together with the parent company or we should withdraw the word “Moldova” from the name “Moldovagaz”. It’s true that the invasion generated exorbitant price rises. The prices of energy products grew by 400%, but we import all these products. We do not produce something like this,” Igor Grosu stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
The Speaker noted that as the prices of all the products are soaring, the state monitors especially the prices of food products and intervenes when abuses on the part of monopolists are identified.
“The authorities should intervene and should not allow some of the players on the domestic market. I refer to food products, not to abuse. In the case of cooking oil, the state intervened, both in the case of VAT and the exceptions for this type of product as regards free export to international markets. We now have discussions with producers and with representatives of shop chains. We told them openly that when everyone faces difficulties, it unacceptable for some to revel in abundance. We said that solidarity is necessary now,” stated Igor Gropsu.
According to the National Bank of Moldova’s forecast, inflation will reach 31% at the end of the year and will decline to 16.5% in the course of 2023.
