OREANDA-NEWS. March 14, 2012. This has been stated by vice-premier, minister of economy Valeriu Lazar. According to him, it may happen if the parties fail to solve points at issue till the first quarter of 2012 and to sign the new contracts.

The new contract seems not to be signed till the end of March, Valeriu Lazar has said. Russia has its own inner problems and Chisinau needs more time to resolve the matters of opinion with Gazprom. The matter concerns the issue about the business Moldova and Russia are running together in the context of implementation the Moldova’s obligation to EU to realize the third energy package.

Besides, the parties have to resolve the problem of the Moldova’s debt for Russian gas which exceeds USD 3 bln. with Transdniestrian indebtedness included. Officials of Chisinau informed Gazprom and Russian authorities about Moldova’s commitment to implement the EU third energy package and about willingness of Moldova to realize such a model of running the joint business with Gazprom which would respect the interests of the company, delivering, transporting and distributing gas in Moldova.

Implementing the third energy package means to differentiate energy concerns by types of their activities. In other words, a vertically integrated company operating in Europe can not be a producer and at the same time a transporter of gas. Valeriu Lazar has reminded that Moldova has assumed the responsibility to implements the third energy package.

However, there is a model which allow gas producers to remain owners of transport and distribution networks and it is up to Moldovagaz to decide which of them will be operated by an independent operator. According to the minister, during the dialogue with Gazprom, the best model will be chosen to respect the interests of the Russian holding.

At the end of the last year Gazprom and Moldovagaz prolonged the validity of the gas supply and the gas transit contracts till March 31, 2012. The party of Moldova has taken the obligation to present Gazprom a well-defined mechanism to sink historic debts of our country to the concern and to guarantee protection of its investments in the republic.

If Moldova meets the obligation, the discussion on the new contract will recommence and principles of calculation of the gas price for Moldova will be revised. This will lead to the lower prices for gas for Moldova.