Thursday, November 8 2018 15:28

ArmInfo.As a result of tariff reduction gas for 20% for socially disadvantaged families in Armenia "Gazprom-Armenia" annually loses about 1 billion drams. This was  announced on November 8 at the meeting of the commission of inquiry  to study the feasibility of tariffs for gas and electricity, said  Chairman of the Board - Director General of  ''Gazprom-Armenia'' CJSC  Hrant Tadevosyan.

He noted that as a result of decline since August of this year. gas  tariffs for socially disadvantaged families this category of  consumers pays 80 drams per 1 cubic meter against the previously  applied tariff rate of 100 drams. The general director also said that  the average tariff for gas for consumers in Armenia is $ 255 per 1  thousand cubic meters. As for the other figures voiced earlier in the  commission, then, as noted by Tadevosyan, they have no relation to  reality. The general director of ''Gazprom-Armenia'' also stressed  that only the maintenance of the company and its farms are allocated  $ 62.5 per 1,000 cubic meters, and this is without taking into  account the value added tax. "Thus, reducing the inevitable gas  losses, as well as our own needs, we get the current tariff margin of  natural gas in the amount of $ 50.8 per 1 thousand cubic meters,"  Tadevosyan stressed.

He also said that the company's expenses are included in the tariff,  they are calculated on the basis of the decision of the Commission  for the Regulation of Public services, as well as those standards  that are agreed with the relevant ministries.

To note, after the meeting of the commission in an interview with  journalists, Tadevosyan said that the current gas tariff will  continue until January 1, 2019, after which a new agreement will be  concluded with ''Gazprom''. Discussions with the Russian company  continue. As for the possibility of raising gas tariffs, then, as the  general director noted, the answer to this question will be given by  the end of the year, when negotiations with Gazprom will be  completed.

To 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.

To recall 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.

Earlier, the now former Minister of Energy Infrastructures and  Natural Resources of Armenia Artur Grigoryan stated that the  negotiations on prices for Russian gas between the two countries will  be held in November. He noted that Yerevan will not stop looking for  ways to purchase cheap gas for Armenian consumers.