Junghietu: The current purchase price of natural gas is significantly higher than that included in the tariff

The tariff for natural gas in October can only be set after 30 September, when the purchase price of gas for the following month will be known. The Minister for Energy, Dorin Junghietu, says that, at present, the purchase price is significantly higher than that included in the current tariff.

Dorin Junghietu

Add Logos Press as a preferred source on Google

Junghietu pointed out that the gas price for the coming month is calculated based on the TTF Front Month index, and the exact figure for October will be known at the end of September.

“So we will only know for certain how much gas will cost us in October on 30 September. But the truth is that, in addition to the negative deviations accumulated by Energocom over the summer – which have been included in the tariff – Energocom’s cumulative deviations already exceed 180 million lei,” said Dorin Junghietu.

According to the minister, once the procurement period has ended, Energocom is due to approach the National Energy Regulatory Agency, which will analyse the data and calculate any necessary tariff adjustments.

At the same time, the minister states that, at present, the Republic of Moldova is not facing a gas shortage for the cold season. Energocom has procured over 370 million cubic metres of the approximately 390 million cubic metres required for the regulated market, including the volumes relating to the storage obligation.

“Energocom has done its job; it has procured a large proportion of the gas required for the winter season and for the gas year. It is now working to fulfil that storage obligation, which must be met by 1 November. However, the pressure on international markets, particularly the European market, is creating certain risks,” said Dorin Junghietu after the Cabinet meeting.

According to the minister, price trends on the European market are also influenced by the fact that liquefied natural gas from the Middle East is not reaching the European market in the expected volumes, and maintenance work on Norwegian infrastructure has been extended.

“The large oil field in Norway, which supplies the European market with gas, is undergoing maintenance. They announced as recently as yesterday – and I read the report this morning – that the Norwegian company in question has extended the period during which repair work will be carried out on a critical compressor until 25 September, and all of this is still putting pressure on gas prices,” the minister explained.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

How did this story make you feel?