Thursday, April 30 2015 13:21

Gas tariff for ordinary consumers may be reduced only if the exchange rate of the US dollar reaches 416 drams. Vardan Ayvazyan, the head of the Parliament Committee for Economic Affairs, the head of the ad hoc committee on the gas supply, told reporters, on April 30.  

Although Gazprom reduced the tariff to $165 per 1000 cu m, he said, the tariff for local consumers will be left unchanged.  "The current tariff is based on the exchange rate of 416 AMD/ 1 USD, while the CB's current rate is much higher," he said. The parliamentarian said in the period of instable dollar rate, Gazprom Armenia suffered serious losses and had nearly no incomes. Nevertheless, Ayvazyan said, analysis of the price making for gas has revealed a number of points that enable the consumer watchdog demand reduction of the tariff.  

Economist Vardan Bostanjyan, in turn, said there is no logic in raising and reduction the gas tariff.  "Even if Russia supplies gas to Armenia free of charge, the ordinary consumers will not feel that," he said with irony.   He called on the government to prevent the surplus profits of companies and increase the solvency of the ordinary citizens. As for the electric power tariff, Bostanjyan said he is not sure that it will be increased. 

Earlier on April 29, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharian said in response to parliamentarian Aram Manukyan's question that Gazprom's statement on fall in Russian gas price for Armenia has not been legally registered yet. According to the minister, the sides are still negotiating on making agreement. The new price on gas is the result of two-month-long negotiations between Armenia and Russia. As for the tariff reduction for gas consumers, the minister said that Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia is the body to tackle the issue in pursuance of the current legislation. 

Meanwhile, press secretary of "Gazprom Armenia" Shushan Sardaryan said the tariff on Russian gas would remain the same. This is reasoned by the losses the company suffered during the currency fluctuation. 

Given Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union the Russian gas price will knock down to 165 USD per cubic meter, told Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller to "Russia 24" TV channel. Miller and president Sargsyan reached the accommodation during Miller's recent visit to Armenia.  The current price is 190 USD per 1000 cubic meter.  According to Miller, this price gives the chance to invest into the modernization and reconstruction of gas-transport system. The TV channel's video material states that there is a growing demand for gas in Armenia, the import has exceeded 2 billion cubic meters and the country has no gas-debts.  Miller has emphasized that he has reached accommodations with his Armenian colleagues to elaborate a generalized system of gas distribution that is to be ready by autumn 2015. According to the scheme, Armenia will be 100% provided with gas.