Petrol, diesel prices increase by up to 0.60-0.80 lei per litre in Moldova

Chisinau, 17 February /MOLDPRES/ - Two of the largest oil companies today increased the petrol prices by 0.60 lei and diesel by 0.80 lei per litre. The pump price for the most demanded premium A-95 petrol reached 17.05 lei per one litre and diesel  - 16.35 lei.

According to a press release by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), other companies will operate an even higher increase in prices. "Some oil companies have notified ANRE about an increase in retail prices of petrol and diesel from 3.6 per cent to 9.1 per cent or by an average of one leu per one litre of octane petrol A-95 and 0.98 lei per one litre diesel, "said the ANRE press service.

The energy regulatory authority’s specialists believe that "the retail fuel price increase is mainly due to the significant depreciation of the leu against the dollar."

ANRE notes that retail prices for petrol and diesel are established under the Law on oil products, by economic agents operating on this market, according to the methodology of the formation and application of petroleum prices, approved by ANRE. These prices are set based on wholesale prices of petrol and diesel and the expenditure on retail activity thereof, by applying a profit ratio of more than 10 per cent, provided for by the aforementioned methodology.

The current price rises are operated after a wave of cuts in prices for petrol and diesel in late 2014 and early 2015. This is the first price increase after six consecutive insignificant reductions.

(Reporter V. Berco, Editor M. Jantovan)