Natural gas consumption in Moldova, except the Transnistrian region, in the first quarter of this year decreased by 4.9% compared with the corresponding period last year, to 482.5 million cubic meters. The natural gas purchases in Moldova fell by 3.3% to 526.5 million cubic meters, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE). The developments are due to the 8.8% decrease in the volume of gas consumed by the population and the 6% reduction in the quantity of gas used by the companies operating in the energy sector. The volume of gas consumed by other economic entities increased by 2.3%, while by the budget-funded institutions by 4.6%. The companies working in the energy sector accounted for 44.7% of the gas consumption, other economic entities for 17.8%, household consumers for 31%, while budget-funded institutions for 6.6%. Though the quantity of the purchased natural gas decreased by 3.3%, the value of the purchases rose by 16.2% to 1.8 billion lei owing to the increase in the purchase price of the gas bought from Russia’s gas giant Gazprom. The average purchase price of gas in the first quarter rose from 2,917.1 to 3,504.4 lei per 1,000 cubic meters, while in US dollars – from 231.7 to 292.9 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.