The Moldovan government will support economic agents in the face of rising gas prices and compensate them for the difference in price for the first 500 cubic meters.
This was stated by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrlita during a joint press conference on Monday with Economy Minister Sergiu Gaibu. She noted that the Cabinet is aware of the impact of rising gas prices on consumers, especially the most vulnerable. “After we have previously adopted a series of measures to support residential consumers, today we are announcing a project to support economic agents and will offer compensation for the first 500 cubic meters of gas for all economic agents. This economic measure will cover the full consumption of more than half of the total number of Moldovagaz customers,” said Natalia Gavrilita. According to her, these compensations will also be paid retroactively, will be applied in invoices from January 1, 2022. “This program will have the same mechanism as for compensations for residential consumers, there will be direct compensation through an invoice. The decision to increase compensation for residential consumers and pay compensation for the first 500 cubic meters of gas for economic agents will be adopted tomorrow by the Emergency Commission,” the Prime Minister stressed. According to her, in parallel, a targeted program will be developed to support industrial enterprises of social importance, for example, producers of bread, milk and other food products in order to reduce the impact of the tariff on the cost of socially important products. A compensation mechanism will also be developed for industries that have been disproportionately affected. Natalia Gavrilita explained that there was another increase in gas tariffs, and the government compared the competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises in comparison with companies from neighboring countries - Romania, Ukraine and others, and also analyzed the possibility of survival of Moldovan enterprises. “We believe that this increase in gas prices in January has already crossed a certain border where we want and can help, and especially through programs that help increase competitiveness in comparison with other companies with which our products compete,” - emphasized the prime minister. Economics Minister Sergiu Gaibu said that the department would calculate and say a little later more precisely how much economic agents would pay for gas, taking into account compensation. “These calculations are not yet finalized. We have made a decision on compensation. We know the numbers, but we will not announce them until the full completion of all calculations. Exact figures will be presented later. But the difference between the last tariff, which was approved, and the one that is now leading to an increase, will be compensated,” Sergiu Gaibu said. He explained that, in general, Moldovagaz has 10,500 non-residential customers, and compensation for the first 500 cubic meters of gas will be received by everyone, and for about half of the customers this compensation will cover all their volumes, since they consume up to 500 cubic meters. Also, additional tools will be developed to help those who use large volumes of gas in the production process, for large companies, for manufacturers of socially important products, etc. Additional details will be provided later. Natalia Gavrilita noted that initially the authorities provided 1.7 billion lei for the payment of compensations, and the new assistance package will cost about 1 billion lei. Some of this money is budgeted and some is not, so the budget will be adjusted later. The prime minister also told those who speak about the inadmissibility of a retroactive increase in gas tariffs and want to appeal them to the Constitutional Court that this decision fits into the actions to provide consumers with gas during the winter period, and it was taken in the context of an emergency situation and relevant decisions of the Commission for Emergency situations.// 31.01.2022 — InfoMarket
