Government official discusses with “Gazprom” natural gas supply terms for 2007

The first deputy-prime-minister Zinaida Grecianii met with the chairman of the Administrative Council of “Gazprom”, Alexei Miler at the headquarters of the company on Thursday, December 7. The official site of “Gazprom” formally announces this meeting, mentioning about the conditions for the supply of natural gas to Moldova in 2007 and the issue regarding the liquidation of debts for the previous natural gas supplies. Sources from the Press Service of the Government told Info-Prim Neo that they can not offer supplementary information about the terms and the agreements in this respect, because Zinaida Grecianii did not yet come back to Chisinau. Within the frameworks of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Voronin, which took place in late November, the parties agreed upon the main terms on which the issue of natural gas supplies will be settled, without specifying them. The Russian President stated that the relations between Moldova and Russia in the energy field will be based on the principles of market economy, by satisfying the interests of both parties. In turn, Voronin said that the Moldovan party drew up several investment projects, which will be proposed to the Russian Company “Garzprom” in light of carrying out joint investments for the development of the energy sector of Moldova, but he did not offer details about these projects. The companies “Moldova-Gaz” and “Gazprom” negotiate at present a long-term contract for at least 5 years. Starting the second half of 2006, natural gas is supplied to Moldova at a price of USD 160 per 1 thousand cu m. The debt of the consumers from Moldova to “Gazprom”, including penalties totals about ISD 1.4 bln.