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.