Moldova-Russia negotiations on new natural gas agreement will include several rounds

The Moldovan delegation headed by first Deputy Premier Zinaida Grecianii has returned from Moscow but it did not agree on conditions of a new contract regarding the importation of Russian natural gas. This is absolutely natural, Economics and Trade Minister Valeriu Lazar said after a cabinet sitting on Wednesday, March 1. According to Lazar, the negotiation process is complex and includes several rounds and that is why they will continue after 1-2 weeks. Representatives of the government discussed the importation price of gas, term of the contract, cooperation formula and possibility to increase the volume of gas transited through Moldova, the minister noted. Gazpromul, Lazar continued, seeks a higher price than at present in continuation, while Moldova wants a lower tariff. „The goal of Moldova is to sign a long-term contract for about five years, but Russia is not ready yet to sign an agreement for such a long period and it needs time.” Lazar underlined that the sides did not discuss the cession of debts, noting that this problem rests with Gazprom. According to the minister, the mass media misinformed that the government is the debtor of debts. „The state does not have debts towards Gazprom, they have been restructured.” Under the natural gas supply contract signed on January 16, the Russian concern Gazprom will supply natural gas to Moldova in exchange for 110 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres in the first trimester of this year, compared with 80 dollars until January 1. As a result, the medium tariff of natural gas for the first trimester of this year rose by 37.2 percent.