The new draft law on amendments to the Law on Oil Products Market is a step towards liberalizing the oil products market, limiting excessive regulation and introducing European standards in the pricing process, which should be fair, transparent and easily verifiable - ANRE.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) also noted that the amendments will correct serious mistakes made by the latest amendments to the Law on Oil Products Market. ANRE stressed that the draft law, recently discussed at public hearings organized by the new parliament, is a good basis for initiating discussions and contains clear, easy-to-use and understandable rules for all parties involved, especially consumers. At the same time, the National Energy Regulatory Agency denied the statements of economic expert Veaceslav Ionita regarding the dynamics of fuel prices and recent proposals for amendments to the Law on Oil Products Market, noting that these statements were widely picked up by other experts / analysts / journalists. As noted by ANRE, the statements actively promoted by Veaceslav Ionita in public space are clearly tendentious, based on superficial analysis and erroneous arguments. The energy regulator believes that the purpose of these actions is to stir up public opinion and divert the attention of decision-makers in order to promote the interests of some players in the oil market. It is emphasized that the smear campaign is taking place against the backdrop of desperate attempts of oil companies and interest groups to boycott and blackmail government agencies, including ANRE, in order to return to the terms of the old legislation, which was much more lenient for possible schemes or fraud. “One can see the synchronization of the statements made and the arguments used by their author with the aggressive position promoted by the oil company, which has an important business portfolio in Moldova,” ANRE notes. The energy regulator stressed that ANRE did not exceed its powers in regulating wholesale prices for oil products and liquefied gas. “The statements about lobbying actions of ANRE in favor of some companies on the oil products market are false and have no factual basis,” the energy regulator said in a statement. It notes that in the context of allegations of the existence of a “gray market” for the sale of oil products or other illegal activities in this sector, ANRE urges the author to contact the competent authorities and provide any information on this matter. In conclusion, ANRE stated that it rejects any derogatory statements against the agency or any actions it has taken to stabilize the situation on the oil products market. // 30.07.2021 - InfoMarket
