Wednesday, April 8 2020 14:08

ArmInfo.If Russian gas fell in price, in general, then for Armenia it should become cheaper, in particular. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo, an expert at  the Armenian Institute of International Relations and Security, Ruben  Megrabyan.

"Raising the issue of expediency of lowering gas prices for Armenia,  our leadership acted quite logically.  Russian gas should not cost  our consumers more than it costs Europe's consumers. Raising this  question, Yerevan hopes for Moscow to display a sober logic. It  awaits its decision on based on real, existing numbers, not  ambitions, "he said.

Last week, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan sent a  letter to Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller with a proposal to start  negotiations on reducing gas prices due to the negative impact of  coronavirus on the country's socio-economic development. At the same  time, Yerevan offers Moscow the opportunity to pay in national  currency, that is, in rubles. Armenia buys gas from Russia at $ 165  per 1,000 cubic meters, while Armenian consumers pay Gazprom Armenia  $ 290 per 1,000 cubic meters.

The very next day, Gazprom Armenia CJSC published a release about  plans to apply to the Public Services Regulatory Commission with a  proposal starting July 1 to increase the tariff for subscribers who  consume up to 600 cubic meters of gas per year who are eligible for  family or social benefits, from 100 to 135 , 9 thousand drams. It is  proposed to lower the price for subscribers using up to 10 thousand  cubic meters of gas annually from 139 to 135.9 thousand drams.

Containing the intention not only not to lower, but also to increase  gas tariffs, Gazprom's response to this proposal, Mehrabyan assesses  as extremely politicized. And if implemented, the Russian allies of  Armenia should remember the sufficient degree of complexity of the  Armenian-Russian relations. And of course, remember that Armenia  needs Russia no more than Russia itself needs Armenia. In his  opinion, Yerevan today has every opportunity to conduct a dialogue  with Moscow at a similar level in the direction of achieving  reasonable decisions based on its own interests.

According to the AMIMOB expert, such a policy should be accompanied  by radical changes in the vectors of the energy security strategy of  Armenia. In particular, in the direction of diversifying gas supplies  to Armenia through negotiations with Iran. Megrabyan considers the  creation and development of renewable energy sources to be the most  important tool for reducing Armenia's energy dependence on Russia.