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RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCH #0089/01 0301236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301236Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6205
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000089 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018 
TAGS: ECON ENRG PGOV PREL MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA INCREASES TARIFFS, GAZPROM TO RAISE PRICES 
 
REF: CHISINAU 1520 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Following Gazprom's price increase on January 
1, Moldova was forced to increase tariffs for electricity, 
heating and natural gas for power generators and consumers. 
Moldova now pays USD 191 per thousand cubic meters (tcm) for 
natural gas, up from USD 170/tcm in 2007 (reftel).  However, 
this price is not fixed for the entire year, and, according 
to MoldovaGaz, will increase to USD 213/tcm on April 1, and 
to USD 232/tcm in July.  Consumer tariffs will be adjusted 
following the July price increase - but not following the 
April Gazprom price hike.  MoldovaGaz has reached a political 
agreement with the ruling Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM), 
negotiating the current price and a commitment for future 
adjustments, but taking into consideration pre-election year 
politics.  END SUMMARY. 
 
GAZPROM, ENERGY REGULATOR INCREASE PRICES 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On January 18, ANRE, the state energy regulator, 
increased the price of electricity, heating and natural gas 
for consumers and increased tariff rates for electrical and 
heating plants.  On average, the consumer tariff for natural 
gas rose 10% to Moldovan Lei (MDL) 2,775/tcm (about USD 247). 
 Households consuming more than 30 cubic meters per month 
will pay MDL 3,161/tcm (about USD 281) on average. 
Electricity prices rose from 96 bani to 98 bani (100 bani 
equals one MDL) per kilowatt-hour (kwh) for consumers of 
electricity from Union Fenosa's three distribution companies. 
 Consumers of electricity of the northern, state-owned 
distribution companies will now pay MDL 1.08, up from MDL 
1.01 per kwh.  Major industrial consumers linked directly to 
Union Fenosa's 110-volt network will pay 71 bani/kwh, up from 
69 bani/kwh.  (NOTE: One USD equals MDL 11.25.  END NOTE.) 
ANRE also increased the tariffs for electricity and heating 
produced by Moldova's three state-owned power plants, CET-1, 
CET-2 and CET Nord, a move which will help alleviate mounting 
debts. 
 
¶3. (U) ANRE Director Vitalie Iurcu justified the tariff 
increases, citing Gazprom's 12.4% price increase for natural 
gas supplied to Moldova, a projected 7.8% decrease in gas 
consumption for 2008 compared with 2007, and a projected 11% 
increase in MoldovaGaz's transportation and distribution 
costs because of the expansion of Moldova's gas network. 
Additionally, Iurcu explained, MoldovaGaz receives transit 
fees denominated in USD.  Because of the appreciation of the 
MDL relative to the USD, MoldovaGaz's profit from transit 
fees are projected to be 11% lower.  These profits are used 
to subsidize tariffs for natural gas, so subsidies of 
gas-generated heating and electricity will decrease as well. 
Iurcu acknowledged that ANRE's slow action in 2007, when 
tariffs were adjusted in mid-February following Gazprom's 
price increase on January 1, 2007, caused MoldovaGaz to 
accumulate debts. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In response to complaints from Union Fenosa that the 
new tariffs favored state-owned companies, ANRE explained 
that the tariff calculations complied with Moldova's new 
methodology, which reduced Union Fenosa's profit rate from 
23% to 13%.  ANRE also argued that Union Fenosa had better 
infrastructure and enjoyed lower technical and non-technical 
losses, which lowered their distribution costs by 7.2 
bani/kwh compared with state-owned companies.  Union Fenosa 
complained about government favoritism.  Rumors abound that 
the ruling Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM) uses the 
state-owned energy assets as a source of financing. 
 
MOLDOVAGAZ AND GOVERNMENT REACH PRE-ELECTION DEAL 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5. (C) On January 23, Ghenadie Abashkin, President of 
MoldovaGaz, told econoff that he was pleased with the tariff 
increases for natural gas and other segments of the energy 
sector, noting that the new tariffs covered his costs. 
Abashkin, who previously spoke negatively about ANRE and its 
director to econoff, said he had reached a compromise with 
the government (GOM) (his minority shareholder) and had 
worked with ANRE to set prices and jointly develop a new 
tariff methodology.  He acknowledged this was not 
transparent, since ANRE, according to Moldovan law, is an 
independent government entity.  Abashkin said Gazprom would 
increase the price for natural gas delivered to Moldova two 
more times in 2008, according to the formula in the long-term 
agreement signed at the end of 2006.  He said the price would 
rise to USD 213/tcm on April 1, and again to USD 232/tcm in 
July.  Abashkin said ANRE and the GOM had agreed to increase 
consumer tariffs again in the summer (but not in the spring), 
 
CHISINAU 00000089  002 OF 002 
 
 
prior to the fourth quarter of 2008, well before the national 
elections in spring 2009.  Prices are set to increase again 
on January 1, 2009, according to the terms of Moldova's 
five-year deal with Gazprom.  However, it remains uncertain 
whether energy regulator ANRE will increase consumer energy 
prices prior to the national elections. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) It seems that MoldovaGaz, ANRE and the PCRM have 
reached a deal, acknowledging the economic necessity of price 
increases, but seeking to minimize potential political 
negatives with voters prior to the national elections in 
¶2009.  Energy-sector companies have long called for tariffs 
that allow for full-cost recovery, including adequate profits 
that allow for much needed infrastructure investments and 
modernization.  Price increases for power and heating plants 
will help alleviate debts, which have been mounting for 
months.  END COMMENT. 
KIRBY