The contract for the supply of natural gas with Russia’s Gazprom will be extended until this yearend, Deputy Minister of Economy Valeriu Triboi said in the November 4 meeting of the acting Cabinet, when presenting information about the measures taken to prepare the national economic and social sectors for the 2015 – 2016 autumn-winter period. He noted that Moldovagaz now holds direct negotiations with Gazprom, IPN reports.

As to the purchase price of gas, Triboi said the formula defined in the current contract with Gazprom is advantageous to Moldova as the price of crude oil and fuels decreased or remained unchanged over the last nine months. Moldova now pays US$210 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. The authorities want to negotiate a longer contract, for a period of 3-5 years. The current contracts on the supply of electric power expire on March 31, 2016.

The deputy minister stated that about 90% of the nurseries, schools and medical institutions have been so far connected to the centralized heating system. One nursery, 19 education institutions and 16 hospitals will be connected later as these are under repair.

According to Triboi, the National Agency for Energy Regulation is now analyzing the reports presented by the suppliers and will take a decision as to the electricity and gas tariffs for end-users the coming days.

“The Government will support the socially deprived groups of people by two ways. The guaranteed minimum of 665 lei per person was raised to 900 lei for families entitled to social welfare. The cold-month allowances will be increased from 250 lei to 315 lei, but a decision is to be taken by Parliament yet. Thus, the number of families that receive benefits will rise from 62,000 to 91,500, while the list of 120,000 families that get cold-month allowances will be extended by 130,000 families,” stated the deputy minister.