ArmInfo. On August 1, the gas tariff for consumers will remain unchanged. Garegin Baghramyan, Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) of the Republic of Armenia told journalists on June 29.
He added that a decision on this issue would be made on June 30 during the PSRC meeting. According to Baghramyan, the exchange rate of the dram against the dollar had a positive impact on gas prices. "The positive impact of the exchange rate will allow us to implement an investment program in the gas supply system. In particular, this refers to the modernization of the gas supply system in Yerevan, which provides for the replacement of all gas distribution stations in the capital with new ones, as well as the construction of a new gas pipeline. As a result, the volume of gas consumed in Yerevan will double," the PSRC chairman said.
He also noted that the price of gas will be kept at the same level, because the price reduction caused by the exchange rate can be very risky even in the summer months. According to the head of PSRC, there is almost no gas consumption in summer, it decreases by three or even four times. "If we make some reduction at the expense of the exchange rate, and then in autumn or winter, if we have an increase in the exchange rate, this will have a much worse effect on the tariff set for the population," Bagramyan said.
He also said that 70 percent of gas consumers are already enjoying the positive effect of the exchange rate depreciation. We are talking about large consumers, and for ordinary consumers, a dram gas tariff has been set.