The public institutions will take measures to rationalize natural gas and electricity consumption in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, while Moldovagaz will initiate discussions within the Supervisory Board on the possibility of extending the payment for gas until the end of this month, as the Commission for Exceptional Situations decided on January 12, IPN reports.

According to the Government’s press service, the Commission agreed that Moldovagaz will continue the negotiations with commercial banks for taking out a commercial loan, while the Ministry of Finance will examine the legal possibilities for postponing the payment of VAT to Moldovagaz for a short period so as to provide the company with the liquidity needed for current payments. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, together with the Ministry of Finance, will analyze the situation related to the rise in natural gas rates and the impact on consumers and will formulate proposals for improving the subsidization system.

Moldovagaz said it is facing difficulties in collecting the funds needed for fully paying for the gas supplied to the country given the negative financial deviations caused by the increase in the import price for January and the maintaining of the earlier approved rates. If the payments are not made in accordance with the contract clauses, the supplies of natural gas can be halted.

The Commission discussed solutions for avoiding a halt in supplies to Moldova, the raising of a commercial loan by Moldovagaz and the subsidization of gas rates if these are raised again.