According to preliminary calculations, the purchase price of natural gas for Moldovagaz in February will be US$563 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, said the president of the company’s Administration Board Vadim Ceban.

“The diminution of costs will enable the company to cover a part of the negative financial deviations that now amount to over 2 billion lei,” stated Vadim Ceban, being quoted by IPN.

In January, the purchase price of natural gas was US$646 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas.

On January 28, the National Agency for Energy Regulation decided to increase the natural gas rates for household users from 11.08 lei to 15.18 lei with VAT included. The new rates will be applied as from January 1. In accordance with the Government’s decision, the old subsidization mechanism for household users will be kept and the state will partially subsidize the first 150 cubic meters of consumed gas. The state will also subsidize the first 500 cubic meters of consumed gas for all business entities served by Moldovagaz.