Thursday, June 4 2020 15:09

ArmInfo.Armenia needs to gradually replace gas with alternative energy sources. We all need to displace gas consumption from our everyday life in a natural way, former  Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, economist Bagrat Asatryan  expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

 ''Russia, <Gazprom> can raise gas tariffs as much as they like. It is up to us and only us to decide whether we are ready to pay such prices or, for example, to  start using solar energy. I am convinced of one thing, we need to  reconsider relations with Gazprom Armenia, conduct a thorough audit  in this company, and finally revise the shameful gas agreement  concluded with Russia in 2013, "he emphasized.

The economist characterizes this agreement as directed against  Armenia and the interests of its citizens. Asatryan is convinced that  within the framework of its provisions, Gazprom Armenia is in no way  interested in protecting the interests of Armenia, in effective work,  and even in its own development. The company's only interest is  making a profit. According to him, the application for increasing gas  prices for Armenia against the background of a 15% drop in gas prices  for Georgia is unclear and looks rather strange.

Asatryan expressed his conviction that not a single Armenian citizen  owed "Gazprom Armenia" a dime, but in 2013 it suddenly turned out  that the population had accumulated debts to this company. Then, for  these debts of incomprehensible origin, we had to transfer to Russia  the last remnants of the shares and surrender to it in a "voluntary  captivity" until 2043.

<Meanwhile, if all the funds that today go to fulfill the agreement  with Russia were invested in development of Armenian alternative  energy, today we would not have to bow our head to Gazprom. In any  case Armenia needs to reconsider and adjust relations with Gazprom,  to give them a balanced character, which will allow them to come up  with more interesting solutions even in the existing conditions>, the  economist concluded.  Gazprom Armenia CJSC applied to the Public  Services Regulatory Commission with a request to review domestic gas  tariffs. Starting July 1, 2020, the company proposes to establish a  single tariff for all consumers, increasing the existing average  tariff by 11%. At the border, Gazprom Armenia buys gas for $ 165 per  1,000 cubic meters.  Consumers pay 139 thousand drams or about $ 290  per thousand cubic meters.

It should be noted that today the Commission will hold hearings on  this topic with representatives of public organizations of Armenia.