Hrant Tadevosyan: Gazprom Armenia has no superprofits

ArmInfo. In the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), with the participation of representatives of public organizations, discussions began on gas  tariffs proposed by Gazprom Armenia.

In particular, PSRC representative Ashot Ulikhanyan emphasized that  in 2019, tariffs for consumers were kept at the same level due to  optimization of the company's expenses and, to a certain extent,  reduction of investment expenses. <However, this measure was of a  one-time nature, as a result of which there was a need in 2020 to  revise tariffs for consumers. As a result, on April 1, 2020 Gazprom  Armenia and Transgaz LLC applied to the PSRC with a corresponding  statement>, he stressed. In announcing the PSRC estimates, a member  of the Commission noted that most of the expenses presented by  Gazprom Armenia are unfounded. For example, the company in its  statement indicated that the revenue for the gas supply system should  be 234.65 billion drams, while PSRC, according to its calculations,  considers the amount of 221 billion drams to be justified. At the  same time, Ulikhanyan touched upon the expenses of the company  related to wages. <The company submitted an application for 18.9  billion drams. Meanwhile, PSRC, on the basis of the possibility of  optimizing the company's expenses and in accordance with applicable  tariffs, instead of 5,783 employees, offers 5,383 employees, which  will reduce salary costs by making 14.7 billion drams>, he said. In  addition, PSRC considers it justifiable to reduce Gazprom Armenia's  repair costs from 11.4 billion drams to 7 billion drams. As a result,  instead of the average gas price proposed by Gazprom Armenia for  consumers at $ 283.14, PSRC calculated $ 266.81 including VAT.

In turn, the head of Gazprom Armenia Hrant Tadevosyan noted that the  company sold and is selling gas today at a price of $ 255, acquiring  it at $ 165. The difference, he noted, is $ 90, of which over $ 40  goes to pay taxes. In this vein, Tadevosyan indicated that on average  annually Gazprom Armenia pays over 40 billion drams to the state  budget for taxes, leading the list of the largest taxpayers in  Armenia. Of the remaining $ 47, as the head of the company continued,  $ 12 is in losses. <We have $ 35 left, of which $ 19 we spend on  salary payments, and $ 16 is exploitation, profit, all together. What  kind of superprofit can we talk about?>, Asked Tadevosyan. However,  he emphasized that the challenge in today's discussions is to balance  the interests of both consumers and suppliers. Tadevosyan noted that  in order to ensure uninterrupted and reliable operation of the gas  supply system, it is necessary to carry out the standard expenses  indicated in the company's statement. It should be noted that PSRC  proposes to keep in force the final tariff for individuals in the  amount of 139 thousand drams per 1 thousand cubic meters. blue fuel  versus 135 thousand proposed by Gazprom Armenia. PSRC also considers  necessary to leave unchanged the tariff for socially disadvantaged  segments of the population - 100 thousand drams per 1 thousand cubic  meters. At the same time, the tariff rate for gas consumed by  greenhouse farms will increase slightly. In particular, instead of  283.14 drams proposed by the gas monopolist, PSRC proposes to  establish a tariff of 224 drams instead of 212 drams at present.

For agricultural processing enterprises, instead of 212 drams, the  Commission currently considers the option of 224 drams acceptable  instead of 283.14 drams proposed by the company. Tariff for natural  gas up to 10 thousand cubic meters. m. sold to thermal power plants  will remain the same - 139 thousand drams per 1 thousand cubic meters  instead of the proposed companies 135.9 thousand drams. For consumers  who consume more than 10 thousand cubic meters per month, the tariff  will be set at $ 255.92 instead of $ 283.14 offered by Gazprom  Armenia CJSC.