In Moldova, the National Energy Regulatory Agency (NARE) notified that the gas distribution company Moldovagaz JSC has submitted a request for adjustment of current tariffs. The main reason for the tariff review was a significant increase in prices in international markets.
The current gas tariff for domestic consumers in Moldova is 12,154 lei per thousand cubic meters (approximately 71,200 rubles). Moldovagaz proposes to increase it by 33.1%, up to 16,173 lei per thousand cubic meters.
Now ANRE specialists are studying the presented calculations to check their validity and prepare draft decisions for the Agency’s board of directors. The meeting at which the approval of new rates will be discussed is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27.
“The adjustment of regulated prices is determined by an increase in the purchase price of natural gas, taking into account the volatility of exchange rates, as well as the volumes of natural gas supplied to consumers,” – says the explanatory note to Moldovagaz’s application.
Let us remember that recently the Prime Minister of Moldova Dorin Rechan He stated that the republic has gas reserves only until the end of this year. There is panic and uncertainty in global markets and prices are rising. In this regard, Chisinau is ready to return to large-volume direct gas purchases from Gazprom, which were suspended in 2022. The Republic of Moldova then completely switched to purchasing gas from European traders. In essence, it is the same Russian gas, but purchased through intermediaries. As a result, Moldovan consumers pay the highest price in Europe for it.
The head of the Ministry of Energy traveled to Russia to discuss this problem. Victor Parlikov. He asked several times to develop an alternative route for gas supplies to the region in case kyiv, as previously promised, stops the transit of Russian gas to Europe on January 1. In this case, Moldova will face an energy crisis, since about 90% of electricity is now provided by MoldGRES located in Transnistria, an Inter RAO company operating on Russian gas.
As reported EADaily Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov He has already reminded Chisinau that Moldova’s development and prosperity largely depend on Russian gas and electricity supplies. The pro-European puppet authorities of the Republic of Moldova, no matter how much they wanted to, were forced to recognize this axiom and send a delegation to negotiate in the “aggressor country.” In their defense, they stated that “other countries are doing this, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Ukraine.”
