After several rounds of negotiations held with Ukraine’s DTEC Vostokenergo and the Cuchurgan Power Plant situated in Transnistria, Moldova obtained a slight reduction in the purchase price of electric power in 2014, the Ministry of Economy has announced. Thus, the import price of electricity will be 6.8 cents per kWh, as against 6.9 cents until March 31, when the old contract for the supply of power expired, IPN reports.
During the negotiations that lasted for over three months, the state-run company Energocom asked for a price of 6.0 cents per kWh. But the maneuvering space reduced owing to factors that affected first of all Ukraine.
Thus, from April 1, the Russian gas supplied to Ukraine will be more expensive. The Ukrainian Government also announced that the rent for using natural resources will be twice higher and an ecological tax of 1% will be introduced on the use of natural gas. The electricity charges in Ukraine are also expected to be raised in 2014.
Given the depreciation of the national currency and other factors that exert pressure on the companies working in the energy sector, the state-run power distribution networks (RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest) identified internal resources for preventing the price of electricity for end-users from going up. The Ministry of Economy voiced hope that the same approach will be adopted by the private company Gas Natural Fenosa.
On March 21, Gas Natural Fenosa asked the National Agency for Energy Regulation to adjust the tariffs for the supply and distribution of electric power, arguing that the exchange rate of the national currency modified and the distribution and supply costs must be reviewed. The request hasn’t been yet examined.
