Price of natural gas in Romania cut by 5% starting July 1, premier announces

With the 3 percent price cut in May added to the 5 percent upcoming one the price drop is 8 percent, Boc said.

The gas price was last hiked on July 1 2008, when it advanced by 12.5 percent for Distrigaz Sud clients and by 11.6 percent for E.ON Gaz Romania domestic consumers.

The lower house committee decided on May 5 to look into the decision to cheapen the gas delivered to Romania’s population. Consequently, ANRE started to control all the operators in the country, including Transgaz, Romgaz, Distrigaz Sud, E.ON Romania and Petrom.

Suppliers have complained several times about losses they face owing to the worn-out infrastructure and the small prices for gas.

The country had a total consumption of 17.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas last year. About two thirds come from the internal output, while the rest is imported.

Romania faced a gas crisis at the beginning of the year when it had to do without Russian imported gas for two weeks, following a conflict with Ukraine over the shipping price.