Ambassador: The issue of Russian gas supplies to Armenia will not  become a bone of contention between Moscow and Yerevan

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.