Gazprom sells more expensive natural gas to Moldova

The price of the natural gas delivered to Moldova by Russian giant Gazprom as of July 1 is $240 per 1,000 cubic meters. The statement was made on June 30, at the end of the sitting of the Governmental commission on the energy complex, by the first deputy premier Igor Dodon, Info-Prim Neo reports. On July 1-2, the Economy and Trade Minister, Igor Dodon, will conduct talks with Gazprom concerning the importing formula of gas for Moldova for the next period. Till July the first, the gas was 13% cheaper. The accord signed with Gazprom in 2006, for a 5-year period, provides a certain discount for the gas delivered to Moldova compared with the European average price. The coefficient is 0.75- 0.8% this year. According to the National Energy Regulating Agency, in the first quarter, the value of the natural gas bought from Gazprom rose by 17.4 % and was over $98.6 million. In Moldova lei,this amount rose by 1.8% and totaled 1.093 billion lei. This discrepancy is explained through the appreciation of the Moldovan leu compared to the US dollar, the currency used to establish the prices. Moldova's gas consumption, barring Transnistria, surged in the first quarter by 6.4% compared with the similar period of 2007 and reached 480.05 million cubic meters.