"In the opinion of European analysts, in connection with increasing prices for energy carriers from the new year, the natural gas price could reach the level of not less than 400 euros ($632), but the contract concluded by Moldova and Gazprom will make it possible not to raise the tariff in Moldova above the contract-stipulated level," said Igor Dodon, who is also the economics and trade minister.
He added that the new price would not change until summer 2009.
In 2006, Moldova and Gazprom agreed that the price Moldovan consumers paid for Russian gas would gradually rise to an average European level.
Until 2006, Gazprom supplied gas to Moldova at $80 per 1,000 cu m. The price was raised first to $110, then in early 2007 to $187.81, before reaching $213 in the second quarter of 2008.
