OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2010. As it was informed at press conference by Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Valeriu Cosarciuc, the corresponding amendments, stipulating change of licensing conditions for importers of fuels and lubricants, were prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and currently they are passing the process of harmonization in the branch ministries.

According to Valeriu Cosarciuc, Prime Minister Vladimir Filat gave the instruction to accelerate the promotion of this law in draft, stipulating the increase of number of customs stations at the border for import of oil products, the liberation of importers from the obligatory presence of 5 thousand tons reservoirs for storage of oil products and the reduction of current rate of charter capital of 8 million leis for importers of oil products.

The authors of this law in draft suppose that current rules of licensing are just a formal condition for obtaining a license and restrict the access to the direct import of oil products by agricultural producers. At the same time, representatives of the Ministry of Economy consider obligatory the creation of minimal reserves of fuel, what is standard for European countries.

According to the Ministry, the initiative of the Ministry of Economy may affect the energy safety of Moldova. Representatives of large companies, imported the oil products, believe that the reduction of minimal requirements for recipients of licenses on fuels and lubricants import will result in contraband growth, import of poor qualitative oil products and chaos at the internal market.