The bill capping and compensation scheme will remain in force until March 31, and the overtaxation will be applied to the entire energy chain, not just for producers, stated, on Wednesday, the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, in the briefing at the end of the Government meeting.

“Now the producers are overtaxed, but it is normal for the whole chain to be taxed. I don’t see why an intermediary should earn more than a few percent, because he only buys and sells, he doesn’t do anything else. I don’t see why he should earn double, triple. It is not normal for some to make very high profits and others to pay them. The price that is now in PZU (DAM) is very high,” said the minister.

He avoided saying concretely whether the overtaxation of the entire chain will apply from September 1: “It is not the Ministry of Energy that must establish this, we do not establish the fees and taxes, together with the Ministry of Finance and ANRE. Let’s complete the internal calculations and we will go public. You are asking me for a deadline on a measure that is not within my competence.”

Asked why the surcharge was not applied earlier, since the PSD requested this from the beginning of the year, Popescu answered: “PNL always supported this and probably then it could not be put into practice. I assure you that the Ministry of Energy knows what to do”.

The minister also showed that the capping and compensation mechanism will not be modified until March 31, 2023, as provided by the current legislation, according to Agerpres.

“The ceiling will remain, obviously. The ordinance is in force until March 31. Nothing will happen to Romanians’ bills over the winter. In September-October we will work on what will happen after March 31,” the official added.