Lithuania To Pay More For Russian Gas, Moldova Hoping For Better Deal

According to media reports, Gazprom increased gas prices for the Lithuanian wholesale gas companies Lietuvos dujos and Dujotekana, and for the fertilizer producer Achema, by 35%, from $156/tcm to $210/tcm. However, Lietuvos dujos’ CEO also said that this new price is a preliminary and may change depending on December’s prices for fuel oil in Europe. On the same day, Moldavia’s Prime Minister said he hoped the country will manage to retain the current gas import price of $160/tcm. Vladimir Nesterenko: The increase of gas prices for Lithuania conforms to Gazprom’s strategy of raising gas prices to ‘economically justified’ levels for its consumers. Earlier the company raised gas prices for Ukraine ($130/tcm) and Georgia ($230/tcm), and asked for $200/tcm from Belarus, which is hoping to get a discount in return for granting Gazprom access to the country’s gas pipeline.