President Igor Dodon's statements regarding the discount price for gas delivered by the Russian Federation are made in the context of general local elections which are important for the next parliamentary elections. This is the opinion of the Democrat MP Monica Babuc and ACUM Bloc MP Dinu Plîngău. According to them, the gas price is decreasing at international level, that is why the reduction of tariff for Moldova would not be a merit of the head of state. Socialist deputy Vasile Bolea disagrees with this view. The statements were made on "Punctul pe azi " TVR Moldova's show, IPN reports.
Democrat MP Monica Babuc says that due to the shale gas revolution, this year natural gas prices have dropped to a minimum of $ 112 per thousand cubic meters, a minimum that has never existed. "Therefore, the highest price per thousand cubic meters that can be set is $ 180, or we buy gas from the Russian Federation with $ 240 per thousand cubic meters. Experts also claim that it would be a salvation for the Republic of Moldova, if President Dodon negotiated gas export taxes and that it would mean a 20% discount. Now, based on these global minimum gas prices, prices will drop without the intervention of President Dodon and President Putin, as this is a sine-qua-non condition of gas delivery anywhere in the world,” noted Monica Babuc. According to them, the taxes issue is one that catches the attention of voters and the Republic of Moldova is on the eve of local elections, which in the end are important for the parliamentary elections.
ACUM Bloc MP Dinu Plîngău says that it is clear that there is a conflict between Russia and Ukraine and this complicates the signing of the gas delivery contract between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova because the import of gas must be done through the territory of Ukraine. MP Plîngău believes that Igor Dodon's statements regarding the reduction of the gas tariff are made in the context of local elections.
Socialist MP Vasile Bolea argues that the Republic of Moldova is dealing with an energy security problem and now, on the brink of winter, people could end up with double tariffs on natural gas. The MP says he does not detect any "electoral whiff" in the announcement made by President Igor Dodon regarding the drop in the price of gas delivered by Russia to the Republic of Moldova, from October 1st. "Let’s not forget that our gas delivery contract expires on December 31st. And then, what do you think, signing a contract on natural gas delivery where the tariff calculation formulas are foreseen is of electoral nature? I do not think that solving these problems is an electoral whiff”, mentions Vasile Bolea. According to him, this year the tariffs on gas delivered by Russia will not increase, while next year they will decrease and this is due to the good relations established between President Igor Dodon and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following his visit to Moscow, President Igor Dodon stated that, from October 1st, the price of natural gas delivered by Russia would decrease, but did not mention by how much. At the same time, the head of state announced that the tariff will be reduced next year as well.
