Ionita: Moldova’s Gas Prices Driven by Corruption, 40% Cheaper Offers Deliberately Ignored

Economist Veaceslav Ionita stated that in a corrupt country, any state procurement becomes a ‘commercial secret’, and the energy sector is the epicenter of corruption in Moldova. “If we were a normal country, we would have a gas and electricity trading exchange. Everyone would know the volumes and prices. How is it possible to buy gas at double the cost – at the highest price – while consumption is decreasing?” said Ionita, as quoted by bani.md. The economist claims that there are official gas supply offers that are 40% cheaper than the current purchase prices, but not a single state institution has accepted them. “I saw an official letter from an economic operator offering to supply gas at prices 40% lower. And not a single state institution bought from them! This is pure corruption!” Ionita emphasized. He warned that the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office must remain vigilant and investigate these suspicious practices: “If a mayor buys a pack of paper at 20% above market price, everyone jumps on him. But when state institutions reject gas offers that are 40% cheaper, no one sees anything! This is blatant corruption!” Ionita also criticized the lack of a functional energy exchange in the Republic of Moldova, stressing that such an institution would ensure full transparency in gas and electricity transactions, limiting opportunities for corruption. “We have an exchange in Bucharest, there’s one in Budapest, but in Chisinau – nothing. In fact, there is no exchange in Moldova, because if there were, there would be no more tricks in procurement,” the economist said.