Prime Minister Dorin Recean said this is the first time that Moldovagaz bought natural gas for Tirapoltransgaz through a transaction on the Romanian Commodities Exchange, IPN reports.

"It is something of a novelty as absolutely all taxes were paid, including the value added tax," the head of the executive told the press.

Premier Recean noted that he always told those on the left bank of the Nistru that it is time to switch to market relations and market prices, in the case of industrial consumers and of citizens too, gradually.

"It is true that they need to make a radical transformation, but they have to do it," said the official.

Moldovagaz purchased over 2.5 million cubic meters of gas for the Transnistrian region on the trading platform "Romanian Commodities Exchange EST". The purchases were made with money paid in advance by Tiraspoltransgaz, and the quantities are for intended for February 12.