The Government will increase the statutory capital of Energocom so as to be able to purchase gas from alternative sources, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița told a news conference on Tuesday, being quoted by IPN.
“It’s clear that the import price and final tariffs will rise. The Government is preparing a compensatory mechanism for the vulnerable sections, based on the size of incomes and the volume of gas consumed by the household,” stated the Premier. She noted that the assistance program will be extended and bakeries and dairy companies could also receive compensation for gas.
“The situation in which we are now shows how correct our decision to accelerate the construction of the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline was. Over the past week, this pipeline was used and we received particular volumes of gas in the process of balancing pressure and we are grateful to Romania for the support offered in this process. We are also grateful to Ukraine for the permanent dialogue on the problems related to natural gas supplies,” stated Premier Gavrilița.
“Moldova will have natural gas, but the question is, at what price. The negotiations are not at all easy. Dmitri Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of Russia’s Presidential Executive Office, will be unable to come to Chisinau this week,” said the Prime Minister, noting she will today discuss the natural gas crisis with the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky by phone.
Natalia Gavrilița noted that Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Vlad Kulminski leaves for Moscow on October 21 for talks with Gazprom. Details about the results of the negotiations held so far cannot be yet provided. Moldova is having talks on the supply of gas also with Romania, Ukraine and Poland. On October 21, Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu goes to Kiev to discuss the given issue, while Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spânu has official discussions in Poland.
The fuel oil provided by Romania in humanitarian aid is enough for several days, but fuel oil from Moldova’s state reserves will continue to be released and more such fuel will be bought from the market.
The Premier expressed her confidence that a new contract for the supply of gas will be signed by November 1, either with Gazprom or with other suppliers, in the interests of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
