Natural gas price, to go up 5.83 pct for household final consumers as of 1 August

The natural gas prices for the household final consumers will go up 5.83 pct as of 1 August, the National Regulatory Authority in Energy (ANRE) informs in a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday. 

"Considering the natural gas suppliers' demands and following a thorough analysis of the costs reflected in the final price, the Regulation Committee, by applying the legal provisions, found that conditions are met for a 5.83 pct adjustment on average of the natural gas prices for the household final consumers, beginning with 1 August," the release says. 

On its last Thursday's sitting, the members of the ANRE Regulatory Committee considered the demands by the natural gas suppliers regarding the adjustment of the prices, demands that came following the fact that starting with 1 April 2017, the natural gas acquisition price from the domestic market has been liberalised, the producers having the freedom to sell the natural gas for a price no longer regulated. 

The domestic natural gas is currently sold on the competitive market, for the household consumers included, the purchase price of which being freely established, based on demand and supply. 

According to a draft Gov't Decision posted on the Public Finances Ministry's website, the maximum sale price of natural gas from the domestic production to the producers could be capped at 55 lei/MWH until 30 June 2021. According to the initiators, the draft decision has a positive impact by halting the uncontrolled increase of prices of natural gas from the domestic production, generated by the dominant position of the two large producers with a market share of over 46 pct each and 95 pct altogether (Romgaz, 48.88 oct and OMV Petrom - 46.08 pct of total output).