Energy expert Sergiu Tofilat, a member of the Supervisory Board of SA “Moldovagaz”, considers that the natural gas charge in several months will fall under 13 lei. According to him, the charge will be decreased before the heating season and then again in January, IPN reports.
“I expect the charge will decrease to 13 lei and possibly further. We are looking at two aspects. When the charge is calculated today, the average price for the calendar year is taken into account. The average price from January 1 was US$750. In January, February, March, we consumed expensive gas and the annual average is therefore high. Energocom purchased gas for US$420 per thousand cubic meters of gas. I believe we will have a reduction now or before the heating season and another reduction at the start of the year, or the NAER can review the tariff methodology. An amendment to the law, providing that the average price for the calendar year should not be taken into consideration, is needed. January passed already. Why should we go back and use the average for last winter?” Sergiu Tofilat stated in the program “Reflection Points” on Vocea Basarabiei channel.
According to him, the decision will be taken by the National Agency for Energy Regulation.
In another development, the energy expert said that Moldova purchases gas from gas exchanges and the European exchange competes with the exchange in Asia – Japan, China, South Korea – for liquefied natural gas. “There are ships that transport this gas from countries in which it is extracted to these markets. When there is a shortage, the prices are soaring and this usually happens when consumption grows, which is in winter. Last year, when the Russians stopped the supply of gas to the European Union, except Hungary, Serbia and several other countries, a gas shortage of about 120 billion cubic meters appeared. It is impossible to cover such a shortage immediately and not even ships are enough. Last year, the demand for new vessels rose by 95%. So, there will be yet a shortage during the next two-three years and the prices can be volatile,” explained Sergiu Tofilat.
Currently, household users pay a gas charge of 18.6 lei, VAT inclusive, for a cubic meter of gas after the NAER in June approved a decrease of about 38% in rates. From October 1, 2022 until then, consumers had paid a gas rate of almost 30 lei.
