Wednesday, October 9 2019 15:06

ArmInfo. Armenian Deputy Prime  Minister Mher Grigoryan is sure that the issue of Russian gas prices  for Armenia was discussed during a closed meeting of RA Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to him, the main agenda of the visit of the head of the  Russian Federation concerned relations within the EAEU. Grigoryan  refrains from indicating what the leaders of the countries  specifically discussed, because "he cannot talk about the content of  the closed meeting, especially since he did not take part in it."  "I'm sure that the issue of gas prices for Armenia was also raised. I  don't think that the issue of prices was more specific," he said.

The Deputy Premier reminded that the gas tariff for Armenia consists  of at least three important components: gas prices at the border,  Gazprom Armenia investment program and current expenses of the  Armenian subsidiary of Russian Gazprom. "Negotiations are underway in  three areas, the result of which will be the general scheme," he  concluded.

Earlier, on September 30, on the sidelines of the International Forum  "Transit Potential of the Eurasian Continent," Mher Grigoryan denied  "information attack" about the allegedly upcoming rise in price of  Russian fuel by 30%. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that these  rumors are not true.

At the same time, he noted that he can't comment on this topic yet:  "I hope there will be no increase," he added. In turn, the First  Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Minister of Finance of the Russian  Federation Anton Siluanov told reporters about the ongoing  negotiations on this issue. "The issue will be discussed at the level  of the relevant departments. I will not anticipate the decision,  negotiations are ongoing, and it is necessary to wait for their  results," said the head of the Russian Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, in September this year in an interview with ArmInfo  correspondent, Chairman of the RA Public Services Regulatory  Commission Garegin Baghramyan informed that the negotiation process  is rather complicated. Yerevan made a concrete package of proposals,  which is still being discussed by Moscow. In any case, as he  indicated, the term of the additional agreement to the contract for  the supply of gas to Armenia (signed between Gazprom's head Alexei  Miller and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan on December  31, 2018 - Ed. note) expires by the end of the year, and from January  1 of next year, it will be necessary to determine the gas tariff for  the population.

Indeed, from the first of January this year, when the tariff for  Russian gas at the border amounted to $ 165 per thousand cubic  meters, the 5-year agreement between Yerevan and Moscow ended, based  on which the price of $ 150 was laid. Therefore, during the  Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission, it was decided to  develop a new agreement, thanks to which it will become clear to the  parties how the tariff policy will be formed in the long term, where  the average gas price for the end consumer will be displayed.