Romania to Raise Gas Prices by Less than Planned in Jan

The price of natural gas in Romania will increase by 1.0% for households and by 1.0%- 2.0% for corporate customers as of January 1, local media reported.

The increase will be smaller than projected in the calender for the liberalisation of natural gas prices due to the fact that the volume of natural gas imports to Romania has decreased, news agency Mediafax quoted the president of Romanian energy regulator ANRE, Niculae Havrilet, as telling an energy conference on Thursday.

According to the adopted calendar, gas prices had been scheduled to rise by 2.0% for households and by 4.0% for corporate clients as of January 1.

The gas from domestic production is significantly cheaper than the imported one. In August ANRE said it may complete the liberalisation of natural gas prices for corporate clients 15 months later than planned in case the difference between the price of imported gas and of the gas produced domestically remains significant. The planned deadline to liberalise gas prices was October 1, 2014.

"In 2014, I don't see gas prices rising more than 10% for households," Havrilet said.

He added that gas prices increased by 9.0% in 2013 instead of a 10% rise envisaged in the calendar.

Source: SeeNews