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.