Chisinau has signed at last the natural gas supply contracts with the Russian concern “Gazprom”, despite the lack of transparency manifested by the Moldovan authorities during one week. The contract for 2007 was signed on December 27 currently, while the 5-year contract – on December 30, Premier Vasile Tarlev stated on Wednesday, January 3. To date, both Moldovan officials and “Gazprom” did not make public official statements regarding the contract’s signing and its clauses.

As the premier says, according to the gas supply contract for 2007, the price of gas will be of USD 170 per one thousand cubic metres, while in the next years it will rise “following a special formula” and in 2011 it will reach the European average price. The Premier states that by signing these contracts, the shock of the unexpected increase in price of the natural gas could be avoided in the next years.

“It is gratifying to know that Moldova as from 2001 has no debts for the current gas consumption. The debts towards “Gazprom” are those accumulated until 2000 and amount to USD 220 million”, Tarlev said, mentioning that the Government makes efforts to reorganise this sum.

Asked to comment upon the projects advantageous for both sides, the Premier said that a special working group will continue the negotiations in this respect. “We want “Gazprom”, which is not only a natural gas supplier but also a partner of “Moldova-gaz”, to take part in building pipes, networks of natural gas in Moldova”, Tarlev said, specifying that the Russian gas giant’s investments will be welcomed in the energy complex while modernising the Power plants, including CET-1 and CET-Nord etc.

At the same time, Vasile Tarlev stated that Moldova did not give up anything related to the national interest, and the agreed price was obtained as a result of the negotiations. “The Government gave up nothing and will not give up further the shares of certain enterprises or other public patrimony for the debts and other purposes”, Tarlev underlined, mentioning that it is just cooperation with the Russian concern in implementing certain projects beneficial for both sides.

Also, the Premier has refuted the hypothesis concerning the giving up the Government’s shares to “Moldova-Gaz” JSC. As he says, since the enterprise was founded, in 1998, the state’s shares managed by the Government remained intact and constitute 35% at present.

Moreover, the Government intends to introduce in the social capital of “Moldova Gaz” all the investments made by the Government in the last years in building natural gas networks, and to negotiate with “Gazprom” regarding the increase in the Government’s share in the enterprise. If the Russian concern wants to invest in “Moldova-Gaz” and increase its share, the Government is willing to carry on negotiations, but this thing will not mean by no means to reduce the share of Moldova, said Tarlev.

On December 26, the webpage of “Gazprom” mentioned that the Company will sign with the Moldovan Government a protocol in the near future that would establish the basic conditions of Russia’s cooperation with Moldova in the field of gas supply. Mainly, the protocol will establish the bilateral agreement regarding the increase of Russian concern’s share in “Moldova-Gaz” and in the Moldovan enterprises distributing gas. As the Premier denies the giving up of Moldovan Government’s share, we can suppose that the press release of “Gazprom” referred to the share of Transnistria.

Tarlev did not say anything about Transnistria’s debts and the way this situation will be settled.

According to Gazprom’s webpage, the debt of consumers in Moldova towards “Gazprom”, including the penalties, comprise about USD 1.4 bln. Tarlev says that the debt of Transnistria would amount to USD 1.2 bln at present. // Info-Prim Neo


Publication date: 03 January 2007   

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