Tiraspol, 20 October. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The government is proposing to halve a tax for mining enterprises. The relevant amendments to the law on payments for environmental pollution were discussed today at a cabinet meeting. According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Yelena Nezhinskaya, the document suggests reducing the tax burden on organisations extracting mineral resources using underground method.
The initiative emerged after the relevant ministry had analysed the work of Grigoriopol Mine over the past few years.
«Since devaluation occurred in neighbouring countries in 2015 and their prices decreased, our enterprise unfortunately became uncompetitive, but the tax burden remained unchanged. Respectively, the production volume drastically declined — from 7,256 cubic metres in 2015 to 5,200 cubic metres over nine months of this year," explained Yelena Nezhinskaya.
To improve the situation, it is proposed to reduce regular payment rates for use of natural resources, or more precisely, the extraction of limestone. This will reduce the price for the finished product and make it more competitive in the market. As a consequence, this will enable the enterprise to maintain production and jobs.
«We also believe that we must support these enterprises given that in 2015 Grigoriopol Mine reduced production volumes by 69% and the Tirnistrom company, also working in this sector, by 55%. The situation in this sector is not the best, indeed," said Economic Development Minister Dmitry Boltrushko.
He also recalled that this category of goods was subject to export duties, that is, if at the expanse of reducing the tax burden enterprises increase production volumes, export duties will compensate the budget for shortfall in taxes.
«It is right that the rate will be reduced. Because if you have excavated, say, a cubic metre of limestone, you [must] pay 54 roubles, no matter whether you have sold it or not, you must pay. And in Moldova the rate is different. And so we have an average price of around 470−490 roubles per cubic metre of limestone, and in Moldova the price is 560 lei, which is half the price," added Regional Development Minister Petr Guzhev.
The government members have unanimously approved the bill. Now the document is to be considered by the parliament.
