Thursday, November 30 2017 14:20

ArmInfo. During 2018, the price  for Russian natural gas supplies to Armenia will remain at $ 150 per  1,000 cubic meters. The privileges for socially disadvantaged  sections of the population and a number of enterprises, in particular  in the sphere of agriculture and processing industry, will also be  preserved in 2016. The decision on amending the agreement of December  2, 2013 between the Armenian and Russian governments on the procedure  for forming prices for Russian gas supplies was approved on November  30 at a meeting of the Armenian government.

Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources Ashot  Manukyan, presenting the draft decision, recalled that on October 24  in Yerevan, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, in a joint  briefing with Armenian counterpart Karen Karapetyan in the Armenian  government, stated that the special gas price for Armenia will  continue in 2018 year. The Minister also noted that social benefits  will be maintained for a number of categories of citizens, as well as  enterprises in the field of agriculture and processing industry.

According to the justification for the document, taking into account  the need to develop energy markets and gas transportation  infrastructures, ensure reliable gas supply, and based on the  interests of maintaining a stable economic state, "Gazprom Armenia"  CJSC, which is a backbone enterprise for the Armenian economy, is  proposed to replace the words " December 31, 2017 "on -" December 31,  2018 ". Thus, the price of Russian gas for Armenia until the end of  2018 will remain unchanged at $ 150 per 1,000 cubic meters.

Recall that according to the previously adopted decision, the price  for Russian gas in Armenia from January 1 to December 31, 2017 at the  border will be $ 150 per 1,000 cubic meters. The corresponding  protocol to the agreement between the Armenian and Russian  governments dated December 2, 2013 was approved at a government  meeting on December 1. 

Until April, Russia sold gas to Armenia at a price of $ 165 per 1tys.  cubic meters. On April 7, 2016, within the framework of the visit of  Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Armenia, an agreement was  reached on reducing the gas price to $ 150, and relevant documents  were signed. The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) of the  Republic of Armenia approved the application of CJSC "Gazprom  Armenia" on the revision of natural gas tariffs for consumers in  Armenia at the meeting on November 25, 2016, which entered into force  on January 1, 2017. At the same time, "Gazprom Armenia" offered to  reduce the tariff for consumers using up to 10 thousand cubic meters  of gas per month, up to 139 thousand drams ($ 292). For consumers  using more than 10 thousand cubic meters of gas per month, the tariff  is proposed to be reduced to $ 242.1, each subsequent one thousand  cubic meters for them will cost 212 dollars. However, benefits will  not be extended to gas stations, budget organizations and TPPs  generating electricity for domestic consumption. In addition,  subscribers eligible for family or social benefits that consume less  than 600 cubic meters of gas per year will pay 100,000 drams for  1,000 cubic meters (approximately $ 210). For greenhouse farms from  November 1 to March 31, the price of gas is proposed to be set at $  212 per thousand cubic meters. The processing companies are also  offered to sell gas at a price of $ 212 per thousand cubic meters.