The president of the Administration Board of SA Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban told a news conference that if the quotations on stock exchanges follow positive dynamics next year, the current gas rate of 11.10 lei can be reduced. “We hope the amounts of gas will also be higher. If the situation on the market changes and stock exchange quotations are lower, if the price of oil declines, we will act depending on the decline and will ask NAER to lower the rate,” said Vadim Ceban.
He noted that Moldovagaz can make such a request to the National Agency for Energy Regulation if there are deviations of plus – minus 3% from the determined rate. On the other hand, if the price on stock exchanges goes up, the rate can also rise. However, Moldovagaz estimates that the current gas rate will be maintained until the end of this year, given that the average purchase price was set at US$430 per 1,000 cubic meters for 14 months.
Vadim Ceban said the current gas price calculation formula is appropriate, being related to the price of oil products and the spot market. This hybrid price will ultimately be beneficial to all the consumers, including the economy.
He noted that Moldovagaz now has debts to two companies: Gazprom and Factory Finance. The largest part of the debts accumulated in 2011-2019.
According to the CE of Moldovagaz, now that the new contract for the purchase of gas was signed, the consumers from Transnistria will pay the same gas rate as the consumers from the right side of the Nistru.
Vadim Ceban also said that the contract signed recently with Gazprom is actually the contract of 2006, with particular new elements. “I think in a period we will return to Gazprom to sign a new contract. We have 19 supplements to the current contract (of 2006). It is hard to manage this contract. That’s why I think we should have a new contract on which we will be working,” he stated.
If interested sides make a request, Moldovagaz will ask Gazprom for its consent to publish the new price calculation formula that was introduced in the contract signed in 2021. “The same refers to the whole contract signed with Gazprom. It can be published after following particular procedures. If interested sides make a request, we will ask Gazprom, but only if there is a necessity indeed,” said Vadim Ceban.
