Experts of the independent think tank “Expert-Grup” propose creating an enterprise that would manage all the natural gas distribution networks with the status of national distributor. The new body would incorporate all the distribution assets and would have two founders – SA “Moldovagaz” and an investment society that would take over the distribution infrastructure built within the National Gasification Program that is now mainly without a clear ownership status.
“Expert-Grup” economist Sergiu Gaibu, in a news conference at IPN, said the natural gas distribution networks built within the National Gasification Program haven’t been fully put into economic circulation. A large part of the infrastructure constructed through the people’s contribution remained without a definite ownership status. Those who financed this infrastructure weren’t recognized as owners and there is thus the risk that the gas pipelines without an owner will be claimed by third parties.
The expert noted that the authorities should inventory and update the value of the whole infrastructure build within the National Gasification Program, with the owners’ consent. An assessment should be carried out for each community apart. Another step is to create an investment society that would take over all the given assets and would issue securities to investors, proportional to the updated value of the made investment. The given society would promote the interests of investors in the other stages of the process.
Sergiu Gaibu said they propose merging the distribution assets of the enterprises affiliated to SA “Moldovagaz” and of the investment society with the involvement of an independent assessor. There should be created one enterprise with two founders – SA “Moldovagaz” and the investment society. This enterprise would obtain a license for the distribution of natural gas and would manage the given infrastructure, integrating it into the normal economic circulation.
According to “Expert-Grup”, these measures offer a legal framework for giving ownership rights to those who contributed to building natural gas distribution networks within the National Gasification Program, ensuring thus social-economic equity. They also ensure an additional source of income for all those who invested in the distribution infrastructure as well as leverage to influence the national gas distributor. The measures will enable to put the distribution networks built within the National Gasification Program into economic circulation, in accordance with the legislation. This will facilitate the capital repair and subsequent development of the gas networks. A new important issuer could thus appear on the capital market.
