Moldova to buy electrical power from Ukraine against 4.4 US cents for 1 kWh

Starting from June, Moldova will buy electrical power from Ukraine against 4.4 US cents per 1 kWh, instead of 6 cents, as the Ukrainian side initially proposed. The decision was confirmed at the meeting on May 20 between Moldovan first premier Igor Dodon and the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister, Yuri Prodan, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communique of the Economy and Trade Ministry, the parties agreed to insure stable power deliveries from Ukraine to Moldova till the end of 2010. They established that, starting from July 1, 2009, the purchase of the power produced in Ukraine will be done against wholesale prices on the Ukrainian domestic market, as Moldova will enjoy a bonus coefficient. Now the wholesale price in Ukraine is some 6.2 US cents per 1 kWh, as that country exports electricity to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania at a price higher than 7 cents per 1 kWh. Now the agreement on power supply from Ukraine are the most favorable for Moldova, reads the communique. Romania offers energy at 7.5 cents per 1 kWh, while the plant from Cuciurgan – at 5.5 cents, without guaranteeing anything because of the natural gas price going up. The Moldovan side considers the more expensive power imported will not lead to more expensive power for final consumers for the moment, because of the leu's appreciation as to the US dollar. Now Moldova buys electrical power from Ukraine at 4 cents per 1 kWh.