ANRE approves new natural gas rates for end consumers

The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) today approved, in a public meeting, the decision on new tariffs for natural gas for end consumers.

According to ANRE’s decision, final consumers will pay a tariff of 18.79 lei per cubic meter of natural gas (excluding VAT), compared to the current price of 13.35 lei (excluding VAT), which represents an increase of 5.44 lei. The tariff calculated by ANRE is lower than the one requested by the supplier, which had proposed a price of 19. 37 lei per cubic meter of gas, excluding VAT.

ANRE stated that the decision to adjust the tariffs is driven by objective factors, the most important being the significant increase in the gas purchase price. According to the data presented at the ANRE meeting, the average purchase price of natural gas has increased from about 8,000 lei to 12,150 lei per thousand cubic meters, or from 404 euros to 598 euros per thousand cubic meters.

Specialists point out that the increase is caused by the situation on the regional market, which is influenced mainly by developments in the Middle East.

ANRE Director Alexei Taran said at the meeting that the tariff adjustment comes as a result of rising international prices for the purchase of natural gas, as the Republic of Moldova is entirely dependent on natural gas procurement from international markets.

The new tariff is expected to enter into force on 1 September this year.

Energocom submitted to ANRE, in mid-July, a request to adjust the regulated prices for the supply of natural gas to certain categories of final consumers. According to the company, the request is justified by the fact that the purchase price of gas has increased significantly, being influenced by the conflict in the Middle East. In addition, the company has accumulated negative tariff deviations of about 106 million lei.

The last modification of natural gas tariffs paid by end consumers was approved at the beginning of this year, when the price decreased by 2.15 lei per cubic meter, excluding VAT. Currently, the tariff is 13.35 lei per cubic meter, excluding VAT, which accounts for 8%.