Moldova wants lower prices for imported Russian gas

The Moldavian government is negotiating with Russia on decreasing prices for gas supplies by Gazprom. Moldavian Prime Minister Vasiliy Tarlev has officially confirmed this information today. The Prime Minister pointed out that the current price was $80 for every 1,000 cubic meters of gas. According to an agreement signed by the Russian and Moldavian governments in Moscow on November 29, 2001, Moldova is to pay $60 for every 1,000 cubic meters when gas is delivered, and the other $20 is a three-year deferred payment with a 7-percent interest rate. Tarlev said Moldova wanted to negotiate the price at $60 without deferred payments for every 1,000 cubic meters.

In 2003 Gazprom is to export 1.6bn cubic meters of gas to the republic, including 785m cubic meters to Transnistria. Moreover, according to an agreement signed in December 2002, this year Moldova-gaz is to buy 1.1bn cubic meters of gas from the Russian company Gazexport at $61.5 for every 1,000 cubic meters.