ArmInfo.The issue of Russian gas supplies to Armenia will not become a bone of contention between Moscow and Yerevan. Russian ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin said this in an interview with reporters on February 27, answering a corresponding question.
At the same time, he emphasized that he was not ready to comment on the details of negotiations and agreements, advising them to turn to competent specialists. "It's better to turn to this issue with specialists who deal with this issue," the Ambassador said.
Earlier, ArmInfo, citing the press service of Gazprom Armenia CJSC, reported that in accordance with the agreement, from January 1, 2020, the gas price at the border of Georgia and Armenia will remain at the 2019 level. The contract for the supply of Russian gas between Gazprom Export and Gazprom Armenia CJSC in the amount of up to 2.5 billion cubic meters per year will be valid until the end of 2020.
To recall, on December 18 of last year Director General of Gazprom Armenia CJSC Hrant Tadevosyan informed that positive progress was outlined in the negotiation process regarding the cost of Russian gas.
According to him, agreement has been reached on a number of issues, negotiations are ongoing on the others. The Director General emphasized that during the negotiations both forecasted volumes of gas consumption in Armenia and investments in the gas transmission network are discussed. The gas tariff, Tadevosyan noted, will largely determine the volumes that will need to be spent in the system. According to him, the tariff is still unknown, therefore, for 2020 investments are indicated in a smaller volume than for 2021-2024. The total investment for five years is slightly less than $ 130 million, but less investment is planned in the first year due to uncertainties with the tariff. "Naturally, as long as we don't know what tariff we will have, it's difficult for us to forecast how much money we will have and what kind of work we will have enough for them," Tadevosyan explained.
To recall, on December 31, 2019, the contract with Gazprom on the supply of Russian gas to Armenia at a price of $ 165 per 1,000 cubic meters expires. At its meeting, the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission decided to extend the validity of license No. 0102 for the import of natural gas into the Republic of Armenia until January 1, 2021.
Earlier Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed out the need to apply such a price that would not hurt the country's economy, thereby becoming a hindrance to the implementation of the economic revolution in the country.