Novac on the Tariff Issue: “When Was Recean Honest with Citizens?”

Socialist MP Grigore Novak wonders after Prime Minister Dorin Recean radically changed his statements in less than two months. In September, Recean assured citizens that gas prices would not rise after the presidential election, and today he has warned Moldovans that a hard winter awaits us, noi.md noted. “Recean promised us that there would be no increase in tariffs. Then it was announced that an increase was required, and the real turmoil began. An ANRE meeting is announced in the evening, in the morning it is called off. All this shows that these institutions are not independent, there is total interference and even pressure on them. I want to know when Recean was truly honest - when he told us that tariffs would not change, urged ‘don’t fall for manipulation by fake news and so on in the same vein’ or in his recent statement that we are in for a tough winter? These are contradictory statements. Of course, there is a real danger of having no electricity, and we haven’t even discussed possible alternative ways!”, Grigore Novac said on the programme Ruterea a Patra on the N4 TV channel. Recall that on 11 September, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean assured that Moldovans will not pay higher gas and electricity tariffs during the new heating season: “The election campaign has not started yet, but I see that an attack with false information has been launched on demand, especially regarding natural gas and electricity tariffs. The government cannot really know what will happen on the international market, but I want to assure everyone that Moldovans will not pay higher gas and electricity tariffs this season,” the prime minister told the ministers at the time. On 27 November, Recean changed his statements after Moldovagaz had demanded a tariff increase for natural gas consumers. “Dear citizens, I have to be honest with you, we have to go through a very difficult winter, we have to prepare for it,” the prime minister said at the beginning of the government meeting. As mentioned earlier, Moldovagaz demands an increase in the natural gas tariff by four lei per cubic meter. According to ANRE, “the request came in the context of a significant price increase on the international market.” The new tariff will be 16.36 lei/m3 (excluding VAT), compared to the current price of 12.15 lei/m3. The last time the gas tariff changed was in May. ANRE Board members will meet on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, at 10:00 a.m. to review and approve regulated natural gas prices.