As part of Gazprom's attempt to raise natural gas prices for former Soviet countries to market levels, the state-controlled concern is seeking to increase the price for Moldova from $110 per 1,000 cubic meters in the second quarter of this year to about $160 in the second half of the year.
A Moldovan government delegation arrived in Moscow Monday for further talks over Russian natural gas supplies in the second half of 2006 and Gazprom said in a news release, "A decision has been made to finalize the terms after a meeting of delegations from Moldova's government and Gazprom on June 19."
Gazprom's new price formula for the former Soviet Union led to a spat with neighboring Ukraine and a suspension of gas supplies in January, but a deal was soon clinched and supplies resumed.
Gazprom also said that it and Moldova had agreed to prepare proposals to settle Moldova's debt on gas supplies in the previous years by June 31 and discussed Gazprom's investment opportunities in Moldova.
