ArmInfo. The new "gas negotiations" with Gazprom are logical in a situation when the pricing of natural gas has already changed by 180 degrees and continues to change from day to day. Economist Vahagn Khachatryan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
On March 31, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan sent a letter on behalf of the government to Gazprom Chairman Alexey Miller about the proposal to begin negotiations to reduce gas prices due to the negative impact of coronavirus on the country's social and economic development.
Yerevan suggests starting a discussion on the issue of reducing the price of natural gas on the border of Armenia and Georgia, offering the opportunity to pay in national currency. Armenia buys gas from Russia at $ 165 per 1,000 cubic meters, while Armenian consumers pay Gazprom Armenia $ 290 per 1,000 cubic meters.
"Previously, this situation was presented to us in such a way that the lack of a proper level of relations between the governments of Armenia and Russia hampered the reduction of gas prices for Armenia. In other words, a political explanation was given. In the current situation, it suddenly became clear that Gazprom was in a difficult situation , from which Europe can no longer buy gas even at the existing exchange price of $ 55 per 1000 cubic meters. The reason is overflowing gas storages, "he said.
Thus, the reasons for raising questions about the price of gas for Armenia, in his opinion, are quite justified and understandable. Nevertheless, according to the economist, it would be more correct for the Armenian government to understand the Gazprom's situation and meet the needs of Russia in this matter. The main goal of understanding should be that gas agreements between Armenia and Russia should not be exclusively a way to line their pockets at the expense of the population of a friendly country.
According to Khachatryan, Armenia has always expressed its willingness to pay for gas to Russia, however, at logical, reasonable prices. Nevertheless, the annual December doomsday threatening to raise the cost of gas for Armenia led to the constant linking of relations between Moscow and Yerevan with the price of gas. In this light, the economist sees in what is happening a good opportunity to clarify the position between the two parties through non-public negotiations. "There is a tendency in the world of a long-term decline in oil and gas prices. This process will clearly not be short-term, being linked to the restoration of the global economy to a pre-coronary state. There is no fast pace here. And most likely the price of energy carriers will continue to fall. And this is a good opportunity to secure our positions in gas negotiations with Moscow and to prevent further abuse of Gazprom's monopoly position, " Khachatryan summed up.
