The president of the Administration Board of Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban said the request to the National Agency for Energy Regulation to increase the natural gas rates 2.5 times is based on the purchase price of gas. Even if they haven’t been yet approved, the new rates will start to be applied on November 1. He noted that now the Government should provide compensations to the citizens or massive nonpayment of bills can be witnessed, IPN reports.

The enterprise asked the Agency to increase the rate for end users from 4.29 lei to 10.26 lei. The figure does not include VAT, which would push the rate up to 11 lei. The rate was calculated 90% based on the purchase price of gas.

“This rate covers our forecasts for a period of 14 months. If the dynamics of the oil market and of the spot natural gas prices are positive, Moldovagaz can ask NAER to review the rates. We asked to apply the new rates as from November 1, as the Commission for Emergencies decreed,” Vadim Ceban stated in the talk show “Friday with Anatolie Golea” on RTR Moldova channel.

He noted that in the created situation, it is very important for the Government to support the citizens with low incomes or the people will ask to be disconnected from the natural gas network or will not pay the bills. “The Government’s attitude to the citizens is very important. If the VAT on gas is excluded, the money can be used to provide compensations,” said Vadim Ceban.

Moldovagaz on November 5 requested the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) to adjust the natural gas rates for end users for 2021. The final new rates for natural gas at regulated prices are to be approved by the Agency in a public meeting.