The logo of energy company Moldovagaz is displayed at a gas filling station in Chisinau, Moldova October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

CHISINAU, March 30 (Reuters) – Moldova will pay Russian Gazprom (GAZP.MM) a preliminary price of $1,160 to $1,170 per thousand cubic meters of gas from April 1, the company’s chief said on Wednesday. national energy company Moldovagaz Vadim Ceban.

This figure is more than double the $547 per thousand cubic meters that Moldovagaz paid Gazprom for gas in March.

Moldova’s pro-Western government has argued with Moscow over gasoline prices. Gazprom threatened last year to cut off supplies if its demands for payment were not met.

From May 1, Moldovagaz will pay Gazprom only in Russian rubles and euros, whereas before it also paid in US dollars, Ceban said.

Ceban said that Moldovagaz did not receive a request from Gazprom to pay exclusively in rubles.

“If there is such a (request), we will have to modify our agreement,” Ceban said.

Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Max Hunder; edited by Matthias Williams and Alistair Bell

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