OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2011. Losses of the Moldovagaz JSC due to the fact that no new tariffs for natural gas for final consumers of Moldova have been fixed since the beginning of 2011 have totaled 40 million leis (USD 3.2 million). The losses resulting from the insufficient coverage of the cost of natural gas imported from Russia daily grow 2.5 million leis, according to the company’s press release.

Moldovagaz said it had again addressed to the National Power Regulating Agency with a request to take a decision quicker regarding the rise in the tariff for natural gas for final consumers starting from January 1, 2011, to stop the growth of debts to Gazprom which will end up being consumers’ debts.

The company realizes the difficult economic situation in the country, that is why the new gas fees are based only on the minimum acceptable and urgent costs enabling to ensure timely payments to Gazorom, to control stability and safety of supply and transit of gas. Moldovagaz addressed to the National Power Regulating Agency on December 31, 2010, with a request to rise the average fee for natural gas for final consumers starting from January 1, 2011 by 13.1% - from 4,098 to 4.636 leis for 1,000 cubic meters.

It is necessary due to the fact that the average expected price for natural gas imported to Moldova rose by 11.7% on January 1, 2011 – to USD 293.8 for 1,000 cubic meters. The current tariff includes the average imported price for gas of USD 262.95.