ArmInfo. The increase in the price of gasoline in Armenia observed in the previous month is due to price fluctuations in the producing country, as well as an increase in logistics costs. The EU national expert on transport Ara Marjanyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
During August, gasoline prices in Armenia gradually increased from 280 drams per liter of "regular" up to 340 drams. Accordingly ''premium'' and ''super'', as well as diesel fuel have risen in price.
"In general, it should be recorded that the process of pricing petrol, gas, jet fuel and diesel fuel are always subject to certain fluctuations. The latter depend on the seasonality factor, the internal policy of manufacturers, and a number of other factors. There is nothing surprising in this. Another thing is surprising. Namely, the absence of a damper fund in Armenia, which, following the example of similar funds in many countries, can significantly soften the above-mentioned fluctuations in fuel prices for the country's economy, "he said.
Logistics, according to the expert, today is becoming more expensive due to a decrease in the volume of fuel imports to Armenia. As another reason, Marjanyan noted the emergence of problems in the implementation of certain actions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, certain corruption risks emerged in this area.
Commenting on the situation with the prospects for the appearance of oil products from Kazakhstan on the Armenian market, the expert noted that there is practically no official information about this process. There is only information about the signing of the relevant agreement. Marjanyan expressed hope that work in this direction is going on, because now, according to his estimates, there are very favorable conditions for the implementation of this program. He noted that in addition to the formation of a tangible surplus of oil products in Kazakhstan, it became possible to import them to Armenia at zero customs duties.
"At the same time, this will become a convenient reason for improving the logistics conditions of transit routes through Georgia, in particular, the conditions for using Georgian ports. Considering the fact that the Batumi port and oil terminal belong to Kazakhstan, this will become a convenient pretext for developing routes for importing Kazakh oil products through the southern route - the Caspian Sea-Iran. I think that today both of these alternative routes should be discussed, "Marjanyan concluded.
