Franzeluta borrows wheat from state

The Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) that owns 3.9% of shares in SA Franzeluta approved a decision allowing the bakery to borrow 5,000 tonnes of winter wheat from the state, Info-Prim Neo reports. Late in September, the Government decided to lend food wheat from the state reserve to bread makers. It requested the municipal and district councils and MoldCOOP Union to identify the economic entities that need wheat. The CMC's decision aroused the dissatisfaction of local councilors. Oleg Cernei said the Council has nothing in common with SA Franzeluta and should not assume responsibility for the wheat borrowed by the company from the state. Deputy Mayor of Chisinau Mihai Furtuna explained that SA Franzeluta is the only company that makes a large quantity of social bread for the residents of Chisinau. SA Franzeluta head Eugen Baleca said the 5,000 tonnes of wheat are enough to make bread during a month. The bakery uses 3,500 tonnes of flour monthly. 52.5% of the shares in SA Franzeluta are owned by the state. SA Franzeluta has yet to return 9,000 tonnes of food wheat released by the Communist administration in 2008 from the humanitarian aid received by Moldova. The Government decided to extend the term for returning the wheat until September 1, 2011 following the rise in the prices of bread and owing to the difficult situation on the cereal market this year.