The consumers will pay 21.296 lei per cubic meter of gas without VAT. The new prices of gas at exit points from low-pressure gas distribution pipelines were approved by the National Agency for Energy Regulation following an approach made by SA “Moldovagaz”, IPN reports.

The higher gas rate will start to be applied when the relevant decision is published. The Agency’s representative Ecaterina Strungari said that a number of objective factors were identified for reviewing the prices, including the increase in the average annual price of natural gas from US$696 to US$899 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, which is by about 29%, and the evolution of the average exchange rate of the national currency against the U.S. dollar.

The head of the Economic and Financial Division Alexandru Shevchuk, who is a member of the Administration Board of SA “Moldovagaz”, said the prices approved by the Agency do not cover the costs associated with the purchase of natural gas and with the transportation and distribution of gas and the company will further accumulate financial deviations. The supplier asks for a higher rise in prices.

In June, the natural gas rate for end-users was raised to 17.24 lei per cubic meter of gas without VAT (18.61 lei with VAT).