Moldova to buy Russian gas at $790 instead of $200 in October

CHISINAU, Oct 1 (PRIME) -- Moldova will receive Russian natural gas at a market price of U.S. $790 per 1,000 cubic meters in October instead of a previous price of $200, but hopes for a long-term deal at good conditions, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Andrei Spinu said in a news conference on Friday.

Moldovagaz started negotiations of a new 3-year contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom in the summer of 2020, but it is yet to finalize the conditions. The current contract was to expire on Friday, but on Thursday, Spinu said that Moldova managed to prolong the contract for 1 month not to disrupt gas supplies.

“We will receive gas at a price of $790 in October. Regardless of the situation, the tariff for the people will not change until negotiations are finished and until a new contract is signed. We are in negotiations on signing a contract at more preferential conditions,” Spinu said.

He also said that he would partake in an international gas forum in St. Petersburg in the week that starts on October 4, where he would continue negotiations with Gazprom. At the end of October, Moldova will either prolong the existing contract or sign a new one, he said.

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