The director general of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) Tudor Copaci confirmed that there are preconditions for reducing the natural gas tariffs, but not to the extent to which some of the energy experts projected earlier. In the nearest future, the Agency will hold public debates to adjust the tariffs, IPN reports.
In the February 21 meeting of the parliamentary commission on economy, budget and finance, Tudor Copaci said the tariffs will decrease by at most 25%.
“The exchange rate is a reference point. The rate then was over 21 lei, but now is over 16 lei per US$ dollar. There is also the slight decrease in the import price of natural gas. The price was then US$ 200, but now Moldovagaz presented the price of US$ 178,” stated Tudor Copaci.
A number of energy experts estimated that the natural gas tariffs should be decreased by 30%. Later Prime Minister Pavel Filip said there are preconditions for a reduction of at most 20%.
Household users now pay 6.3 lei per cubic meter of gas, including VAT of 8%.
