Moldova switches to Argus to calculate the price of autogas

19 May 2016

Moldovan energy regulator Nare has started setting maximum retail prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sold as autogas with reference to Argus assessments for a mix of propane and butane delivered at Brest on the Poland-Belarus border.

The relevant decree was published in the “Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova”, Moldova’s official source of information, on 13 May.

Nare will set the maximum retail price of LPG autogas using an average of Argus daf Brest propane-butane mix price assessments published in the daily Argus International LPG report over the prior 28 days, excluding weekends and holidays.

Moldova is completely dependent on imports of LPG delivered mainly by rail from Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as by road from Romania and Belarus.

The LPG market in Moldova is estimated at 60,000-70,000 t/yr, 85-90pc of which is used as motor fuel, known as autogas.