However, the reference price of gas for industrial consumers on the free market will be the same as in January 2014.
The prime minister said that the elimination of cogeneration tax will encourage electricity exportation on the regional market and maintaining the gas reference price in the industry, at the same level as in 1 January 2014 will encourage competitiveness.
"The government will discuss on Wednesday the elimination of the cogeneration tax for export to encourage Romania's energy exports on the regional market. On April 8, the European Commission will publish the guidelines and rules whereby each member country will be able to provide scheme to reduce by 85% the renewable energy costs for industrial consumers. On natural gas, as of April 1, the price for households, based on the schedule negotiated by the former government and enforced by us, will increase by 2%, on the other hand, for all those on the free market thereference price will be the same as of 1 January 2014, " Victor Ponta said.
According to the timetable to eliminate regulated prices, natural gas prices for industrial consumers should have increased by 5% from 1 April.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta presented Mondaythe new economic measures, which he said would be approved Wednesday by the Government.
He added that the government is determined to reduce employer social security contributions by 5 percentage points, with a budgetary impact calculated on the second half of the year of 2.6 billion, and to exempt from tax the reinvested profits from July 1, measures which will be discussed with the International Monetary Fund.
Cogeneration tax is charged to companies that produce electricity and heat simultaneously and is paid by any consumer. The fee is applied between 2011-2023, and its share of the bills is 2-3%.
Prime Minister Ponta’s speech was marked by an incident. PPDDdeputy IoanaJenicaDumitru fainted and an ambulance was called to the Parliament.