Moldova is negotiating with Gazprom the quantity of gas that will be imported in 2016 and the negotiations could be closed by the end of November, Deputy Minister of Economy Valeriu Triboi announced in a news conference, without specifying the possible purchase price of natural gas. Currently, Moldova pays US$204 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas and the deputy minister said he considers that this is a good price, IPN reports.
Valeriu Triboi also said that the Transnistrian consumers’ debt for the natural gas supplied by the Russian company totals US$780 million. “We work with the representatives of Gazprom to identify a formula for scheduling the payments on the debt over ten years so as to reduce the burden on consumers,” he stated.
Moldova’s total debt to Gazprom, together with the debt of Transnistria, is US$6.1 billion.
As regards alternative sources of natural gas, Valeriu Triboi said that intense work in this regard is done following the putting into commission of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline. The feasibility study for building the Ungheni – Chisinau section will be completed soon. The construction works, assessed at €83 million, will start in 2016.
As to electric power, the official said Moldova will continue to purchase 70% of the electricity from the Cuchurgan Power Plant, while 30% will be supplied by the cogeneration stations located on the right bank of the Nistru. The contracts will be renewed after November 30, when the current ones expire.
