OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2010. As it was informed by the Chairman of the Moldovan-Russian company SC Moldovagaz Alexander Gusev, this amount includes current and historical debt, fines and penalties for the late payment.

The head of Moldovagaz stressed that, inter alia, the debt of Moldovan consumers living on the right bank of the Dniester (excluding Transnistria) for the Russian gas is about US350 million; US 155 million of which- a penalty for the late payment. The current debt of Moldovagaz to Gazprom for the natural gas consumed in 2009 is US 45 million.

The gas debt of Transnistrian consumers exceeds US 2 billion. Alexander Gusev noted that Transnistria continues to accumulate large debts for the Russian gas. The main reason for the low level of payments is the fact that the gas in the region is sold below the purchasing price. Every quarter the gap increases which does not allow paying for the gas in full.

As it was reported by Alexander Gusev before, the debt of Moldovagaz to Gazprom was formed due to non-payment of the fuel and energy companies of Moldova. The total debt of the energy companies of Moldova to SC Moldovagaz exceeds 1,7 billion leis (about US 140 million). The head of the company said that debts of the energy companies of Moldova for the Russian gas is one of the main problems in relations with Gazprom.