Monday, November 5 2018 16:40

ArmInfo. In Armenia, there are opportunities to reduce gas and electricity tariffs for end users. On November 5, after the completion of the regular meeting of  the parliamentary commission of inquiry, the head of the commission,  Deputy President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia  Mikael Melkumyan told journalists.

According to him, the optimization of staffing units, reduction of  administrative costs, increase in the efficiency of the energy  complex, settlement of the procurement system is among the ways to  reduce tariffs.  The Deputy President stressed that at the next  meeting of the commission, the investment program of Gazprom Armenia  will be discussed, during which the possibilities for reducing  tariffs will also be considered. In this context, the Deputy  President expressed hope for the success of the upcoming high-level  talks on the price of Russian gas. Moreover, large volumes of gas and  electricity consumption are also sources of tariff reduction.  Nevertheless, Mikael Melkumyan considers it important to develop  nuclear and hydropower, as well as alternative and renewable energy  sources, which will make it possible to use less gas and,  consequently, lead to a decrease in its cost. Earlier, the  vice-speaker noted that at the border, Armenia buys gas at a price of  $ 150 per 1,000 cubic meters, and it reaches the consumer twice as  expensive. The purpose of the commission will be to study the entire  chain through which gas is supplied to the consumer, and to  understand the situation. He stressed that it is also necessary to  clarify the issue related to technical and non-standard losses and  the profit from the sold gas received by Gazprom Armenia.  The Vice  Speaker also noted that the decision of the Acting Prime Minister has  formed a working group that deals with the same issue, in connection  with which there is a need to organize the work of the parliamentary  commission so that its activities do not duplicate the research  conducted by the government structure. In a conversation with  reporters Melkumyan stated that the government and business  representatives sought not to reduce tariffs in order to form a  profitable system. "We, as parliamentarians, should ask two  questions. First, is there a need for parliament to develop legal  contractual terms that would be a reasonable compromise between  consumers and producers? Secondly, we need to understand why all the  problems of energy companies should be addressed by consumers  "Especially, in the presence of their monopoly position and the  losses existing in the networks," the Deputy President noted.

Io recall on October 10, the Minister of Energy Infrastructures and  Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Garegin Baghramyan,  answering the question of ArmInfo, noted that it is too early to talk  about the possibility of reducing gas tariffs for Armenian consumers.  According to him, a working group has been formed, which is studying  this issue. Only after the balance calculations are made, the  forecasts on consumption volumes, exchange rates, and when discussing  the issue with Gazprom Armenia and Armenia's Electric Grid will it be  possible to talk about the possibility of lowering energy prices.  To  note on October 10 the government of Armenia approved the agreement  with the government of the Russian Federation on the pricing of gas.  As Garegin Baghramyan noted, until December 31 of the current year  the price of gas will remain unchanged and will be $ 150 per 1  thousand cubic meters. And about. the minister stressed that later  consideration of issues is due to procedural costs. Recall that now  Armenia receives gas from Russia at $ 150 per thousand cubic meters  at the border. Domestically, the consumer is already paying $ 290  dollars per thousand cubic meters of gas, large subscribers who  consume more than 10,000 cubic meters pay $ 242, and greenhouses and  processing plants pay $ 212. Meanwhile, following a meeting with  Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 8, Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan announced an agreement of the parties to study together the  pricing of Russian gas in Armenia. According to him, he gets to the  republic at a very low price, but there is a high markup in Armenia.  Later, during a meeting with the Minister of Energy Infrastructures  and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Garegin Baghramyan,  the head of the Armenian government announced his intention to  discuss the price of Russian natural gas with Vladimir Putin. Nikol  Pashinyan noted that he intends to meet with the Russian president in  November and in December and discuss with him, among other issues,  the price of gas. "I'm getting ready to meet with Putin in November  and presumably in December. Prepare documents for me on gas prices so  that I can discuss them," the republic's prime minister said. In  turn, Baghramyan expressed the opinion that the tariffs for Russian  gas can be reduced to $ 140 from $ 150 per thousand cubic meters.   "The document must be justified," Pashinyan replied.