Over 121,000 social-vulnerable persons of Moldova will benefit from an increase, with 37.5%, of nominative compensations for gas consumption, related to increase to gas tariff, according to a decision adopted on Wednesday, 1 March, by the government. Deputy Minister of Economics and Commerce, Sergiu Sainciuc, noted that it was about the compensations to gas stove, water heater and natural gas used for heating. In his opinion, this action of important social protection, as 11 social-vulnerable categories of population will benefit from these compensations, including disabled persons, families with many children, war veterans, alone persons etc. The additional costs of re-calculating the nominative compensations represent 7,4 million lei, amount included in the state budget. Even, the tariffs to natural gas have increased since 17 February; this increase came in force on 1 February 2006. In 2005, over 263,600 persons benefited from all types of nominative compensations, 220 million lei were spent for their payment. Nominative compensations are allocated starting 2000. Starting 17 February 2006, the average tariff to natural gas increased with 37.2%, as result of increase of imported Russian gas, from 80 dollars to 110 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.