Moldovan infrastructure minister says to continue negotiations on gas issue with Gazprom CEO

Chisinau, 25 October /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Andrei Spinu, at a today’s news briefing, said that he would continue the negotiations with the Russian giant Gazprom. Spinu noted that he would meet Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller in St. Petersburg on 27 October.     

Referring to the talks held with the Russian side so far, the deputy PM said that they had been difficult and Moscow’s proposals were unacceptable for Moldova, for the time being. ‘’After the discussion in Moscow, we continue the communication with Gazprom.  The discussions are difficult; yet, on 27 October, I will have a new conversation with Miller in St. Petersburg, during which we will continue the subjects on the agenda considered in Moscow. We are open and correct. We understand the extremely difficult situation on the international natural gas market and the prices’ explosion in the entire Europe. We will be go to citizens with an agreement which is in our interest as well,’’ Andrei Spinu said.    

The official specified that he would discus with Alexey Miller also the debt accumulated between Moldovagaz and the Gazprom group of companies since 1994. ‘’An independent audit is needed, which is to confirm us this debt, before being able to sign any kind of arrangements,’’ the deputy PM stressed.   

The infrastructure minister also referred to the gas prices. ‘’We want a fair price, based on a formula similar to the ones given also to other states, with which Gazprom signed long-term contracts. We went with more options; one of them is the price at the exchange for annual contracts, or a mixed formula, which is to take into account both the price at the gas exchange and the oil’s quotation. On 27 October, I will go to continue the discussions proceeding from these proposals,’’ the deputy prime minister said.   

Andrei Spanu specified that Gazprom suggested a 25-per cent decrease in the price for gas provided to Moldova ‘’in certain conditions.’’  

Last week in Moscow, Andrei Spinu met Deputy Kremlin Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak, Gazprom Export Director General Elena Burmistrova, Energy Minister  Nikolay Shulginov. Upon his return, Spinu wrote that ‘’our message was the same during the negotiations: Moldova wants to continue the discussions and sign a long-term contract between Moldovagaz and Gazprom, which favours both sides.’’