Energy Minister Guarantees Household Gas Price Won’t Be Raised On January 1, 2015
Minister-delegate for Energy Razvan Nicolescu, on Thursday stated he guarantees with his resignation that natural gas and heating prices for household consumers won’t increase on January 1, 2015.
Nicolesc added that he got the approval of the European Commission to delay the liberalization of household gas price until 2021, following talks with former European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Ottinger in August, at the inauguration of Iasi -Ungheni gas pipeline (Republic of Moldova).
The Department for Energy said in a press release Wednesday that the price of natural gas produced domestically and delivered to household consumers will not be raised until July 1, 2015, adding that Government and energy regulator ANRE will draft a new deregulation calendar for the gas market for the period July 2015-July 2021. (Puterea)
Romania To Keep Oil Industry Royalty System Unchanged In 2015
The royalty system for the oil industry will remain unchanged next year and changes will be considered afterward, minister-delegate for the Budget Darius Valcov said
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said in September a bill amending the country’s royalty system would be put up for debate early next year. He said the new system would ensure budget resources comparable to the EU average and would not discourage investments by raising taxes too much.
Romania’s current legislation does not differentiate between various types of resources and the level of royalties ranges from 3% to 13% of hydrocarbon production levels.
The current royalty levels were established in 2004 in the law approving the privatization of oil company Petrom, which was bought at the time by Austria’s OMV. The royalty levels established then are set to expire at the end of this year. (Adevarul)
File On The Vote Of Romanians Abroad Sent To National Anticorruption Department
The National Anticorruption Department (DNA) asked the General Prosecutor’s Office for the file related to the voting process of Romanians abroad, investigating actions of abuse of office and the hindering of the constitutional right to vote.
The file was sent Thursday by the prosecutors of the Supreme Court to the National Anticorruption Department for continuing the investigations.
Gabriela Firea, spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), stated Thursday that the party she represents has fully observed the law in this respect, while the political cost was painful. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Traian Basescu: Victor Ponta Is Deeply Discredited In EU, He Should Resign
Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday stated he publicly asks Prime Minister Victor Ponta to undertake the forming of a new government as the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which will not include himself, for the sake of Romania’s “credibility”.
“Politician Ponta is deeply discredited in the European Union and his presence in the Government would only discredit Romania,” Basescu stated.
Basescu added that the EU representatives believe the hindering of the constitutional right to vote for Romanians abroad was a deliberate action, given that the left wing is not very popular in Europe. (Puterea)