Liberal senator Daniel Zamfir (National Liberal Party, the opposition - ed.n.) stated on Thursday in a press conference held in central Brasov that half of those who exploit mineral resources have never paid royalties to the Romanian state, requesting in this respect the acting premier, Mihai Fifor, to urgently release the order of the National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM) President which forces the update of the natural gas prices.
According to the parliamentarian, updating the natural gas price does not involve increasing it.
Daniel Zamfir added that over time, there has been "huge complicity" between the state's authorities, ANMR and those who exploit these riches, respectively.
"Today, the state is losing half of the amount due because this price hasn't been updated in 10 years and every day this order goes unpublished in Monitorul Oficial [ the Official Journal - ed.n.] means the Romanian state is losing hundred of thousands of euros. I consequently urge acting prime minister Mihai Fifor to urgently release this order and halt the drains, which are huge, anyway. (...) Aside from the oil and gas resources, that we treat separately, I want you to know that from everything that is being exploited today as riches of the Romanian state, and I am referring here to mineral waters, salt, marble, mud, stone, of everything being exploited, half of those who own at present an exploitation licence, I want you to know, have not paid any lei in royalties to the Romanian state, or this worries me greatly," Daniel Zamfir specified.
He underscored that by not updating the natural gas price, the Romanian state has incurred losses amounting to 6, 7 billion euro starting with 2008 and until now, and a responsible Government has the duty to put a halt to these huge losses.
At the same time, Zamfir said he will make all the necessary demarches by the Economic Committee for this situation to be regulated and he intends to propose a draft bill meant to transform ANMR "in a strong entity, because as far as he is concerned, it is unacceptable that all of the Romanian state's resources, all its riches be managed by only 39 people who are currently employed by this agency."
AGERPRES .
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