Moldova could possibly extend contract on Russian gas supply
15:37 | 16.12.2015 Category: Economic
Chisinau, 16 December /MOLDPRES/-The annex to the contract on gas supply Moldova has signed with Gazprom giant, seeing that it should be extended by one more year, could be signed in the next two weeks. Moldova secured a contract to import natural gas from Russia until 31 December 2015.
“The Council of Observers is going to meet on 23-31 December to negotiate and sign the annex to the gas supply contract for 2016. We will be provided with electricity and natural gas in 2016,” acting Deputy Economics Minister Valeriu Triboi said, after today’s meeting of the parliamentary commission for economy, budget and finance.
The head of the commission for economy, budget and finance, Stefan Creanga said “the gas price will not grow” in 2016. Moldova is currently paying Gazprom 204 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, six dollars more against the last quarter.
The current contract was signed in December 2006 and has expired on 31 December 2011. Since then, the contract has been consecutively prolonged over the next years. The contract signed in 2006 provided for a gradual increase in the import price. As a consequence, the acquisition price increased from an average 76.1 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in 2005 to almost 380 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in 2013.
Moscow will sign a new gas supply contract and help resolve gas debts, if Moldova gives up on the documents signed within the European Energy Charter.
(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor A. Raileanu)
