The natural gas tariff in Moldova could increase to 35 lei per 1 cubic meter if Energocom continues to buy gas at the market price.
This was stated by Chairman of the Board of Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban on the air of RliveTV. He noted that he does not see the preconditions for reducing the gas tariff from January 1, 2023 and believes that in the absence of gas purchased from Gazprom at a price of $700-800 per thousand cubic meters and when the state chooses to purchase gas at the market price, the gas tariff may increase to 35 lei per 1 cubic meter. "Tariff deviations from the current tariff, which we have to reimburse, are about 5 lei. Given the current exchange prices, which amount to $1400-1700 per 1,000 cubic meters, the tariff will stand at 28-30 lei plus financial deviations, which will amount to 33-35 lei", pointed out the head of Moldovagaz. According to him, Energocom has not yet set a final price for the gas sold to Moldovagaz, but it will amount to some $1000 per 1,000 cubic meters. "I have no data on the price yet, we will find out in the next days. From time to time this price changes because each injection point, for example, the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau pipeline or the Trans-Balkan pipeline, each route has its own transportation cost. So the purchase price will be approved by Energocom. I estimate it to be about $1,000, that's the indicative purchase price that's now included in the tariff, and that's a full-year average of $926. I think the price from Energocom will be around that figure," Vadim Ceban added. He also informed that because of high tariffs and decrease of incomes of the population, the consumption of gas by consumers was considerably reduced relative to the same period of the previous year. In November alone, the drop in consumption was 30% at the level of household consumers. Residents of rural areas adapt to the new circumstances and switch to alternative fuels, wood, coal, or simply consume less gas. // 14.12.2022 - InfoMarket
