The base scenario remains the extension of the current compensation-cap scheme for a determined period, in the unstable regional context and the increase in gas prices on international markets, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja stated on Thursday in a Facebook post.
“The compensation-cap scheme for energy prices is under the attention of the Government and the governing Coalition. Our concern is to find the best solutions to protect consumers. The base scenario remains the extension of the current scheme for a determined period, in the unstable regional context and the increase in gas prices on international markets,” the minister wrote, according to Agerpres.
He stated that the authorities are also pursuing measures to increase liquidity on the market, in the short term, in order to avoid artificial price increases.
“Given the importance of this topic, which includes both the capping scheme and the related budget, responsible analyses are necessary to substantiate the final decision. Any speculation made before the adoption of an official decision at the government level has no basis,” Burduja added.
The minister’s reaction comes after the leader of the National Trade Union Bloc, Dumitru Costin, announced earlier on Thursday that the energy price capping measure is not being extended, but is being replaced by another measure that will be restricted to a number of citizen beneficiaries.
“Today’s meeting was an information meeting by the Government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance on the elements that will be included in the state budget and the social security budget for 2025 (…) I received assurances from the Minister of Finance that, in the afternoon of this day, in the shortest possible time, you will also have access, obviously, to this document. There was not much to comment on the elements mainly reported by the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister. As far as we are concerned, we asked two clarifying questions. One clarifying question concerned the maintenance of support measures for citizens after March 31, regarding energy prices. We received assurances that they will be highlighted in the Budget Law. The size of the measure itself, but also the number of citizens who will benefit, will also be clearly provided. The measure is maintained, but not for everyone, but for a smaller number of citizens, probably taking into account family income. The way in which these support measures will be granted will not be to companies, because those in the business environment also asked, but will be made directly to the citizen, as payment instruments with which he can cover part of his bill expenses. We were not told the value either. We will find out more when we see all the data in the Budget Law. The current form is not being extended, but is being replaced by a measure that will be restricted to a number of beneficiary citizens,” Costin said after the meeting at Victoria Palace.
At the beginning of January, the Ministry of Energy stated that the scenarios analyzed regarding the liberalization of the energy market provide that this will be done in stages, with the protection of all consumers, and is not limited to April 1.