Niculae's plants have an 80m-euro rescheduled debt for Romgaz gas
The six chemical complexes owned by Ioan Niculae, seen as one of
the wealthiest Romanians, were on the list of major consumers that,
from May 2009 until October 2010, were supplied only with
domestically produced gas, whose price is twice as low as that of
imported gas.
InterAgro received gas only from Romgaz, while some energy
producers, such as Electrocentrale Bucureşti, were supplied by
Petrom. According to some market sources, one of the reasons why
Petrom did not supply Niculae with gas is related to payment
problems.
Beside this incentive, which was not extended after October 2010,
the representatives of the Economy Ministry, Romgaz owner, stated
that starting as early as 2002, chemical fertiliser producers have
benefited from certain commercial discounts from the gas
producer.
"(...) The scheduled debt registered by Romgaz clients operating in
the chemical industry stands at 337.7m RON (80m euros). Taking into
account scheduled debt posted by Romgaz chemical industry clients,
then InterAgro registers a 100% percentage," says the company's
deputy general manager, Lucian Stancu.
"I do not have an 80m-euro debt. Of this sum, around 30m euros make
a debt, but the rest are penalties and raises. I am paying this
debt in monthly instalments, as set in the rescheduling agreement,"
Ioan Niculae said.