Moldova will pay US$790 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in October, as opposed to US$550 a month before. The contract with Gazprom, which expired on September 30, was extended for a month so as not to interrupt the supply of natural gas until a new agreement is signed and to negotiate a better price, said Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. He assured that the higher price of gas for this month will not affect the end-users, IPN reports.

Andrei Spînu is confident that a month is enough to complete the negotiations. Next week, together with functionaries from Moldovagaz, he will take part in the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum where they will have discussion with the administration of Gazprom.

Andrei Spînu said that until a new long-term contract is signed, the tariffs for end-users will not change. In the short term, the costs will be covered by Moldovagaz. “We realize that the situation is difficult, but we guarantee that we will keep the prices under control. Until we find an optimal compensation solution for the citizens, all the necessary measures will be taken to prevent changes in bills,” stated Andrei Spînu.

He noted that Moldova, as other states, faces an unprecedented situation on the gas markets in Europe: prices rose to over USD$1,000 per cubic meter. This situation cannot be influenced by measures that can be taken by the Gavrilița Government.

In another development, Andrei Spînu said that the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline will become functional next week. The price of gas rose in Romania too and the price for Moldova will not be lower if gas is supplied through this pipe.