Crisis in Moldovan energy sector may be overcome, experts say

Chisinau, 24 September /MOLDPRES/ - A group of experts of energy and economic sectors have proposed an action plan in order to overcome the crisis situation. The resolution, which includes a plan of getting out of crisis, was sent to the Moldovan authorities, Secretary of Energy Community, IMF Mission and other institutions.

The main cause of energy sector crisis is the depreciation of the national currency. The difficult situation is also fed by other factors, among which low incomes of people and state's dependence on a single supplier when importing gas and power, experts says.

They also say that the state institutions responsible for energy area promote a policy which counters against legal provisions. The resolution reads that the parliament approved an amendment to the Law on gas in 2014 against the European standards. This led to the increase of costs for consumers by over 300 million lei annually.

Recently, the government has approved a legislative initiative stipulating the annulment of modification made in 2014, which resulted in rise up by 16-fold of price to gas transport.

The experts say that the approval of new prices was made by violating the Law on transparency in decision-making and gas rates published in the Moldovan Official Journal are higher than those announced by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) during the 17 July public meeting. „Moreover, the decisions on suspending tariffs have no legal ground, as well as obliging operators to carry out the international audit. The pretended international audit refers only to correctness of tariffs calculation, and not to operators' activity, which shows a pronounced populist nature,” the resolution reads.

The mentioned action plan stipulates amendment of legislation in order to increase ANRE independence, as well as to create a Consultative Council of latter, which to include independent experts. The experts consider that decisions on suspension of prices have to be annulled and it should be reviewed price increase, by organising public consultations in line with legal provisions.

The experts also believe that it is necessary to organise a complex control of all energy operators, with participation of independent experts, as well as specialists of state specialised institutions.

The also propose to set up a consultative group,made up of representatives of civil society, in order to monitor interconnection to Romanian energy system.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)