417.15 EUR 
ARG to get 142 million drams as compensation for gas to low-income families
YEREVAN, March 7. / ARKA /. The Armenian government said today it will pay 142.2 million drams to ArmRosGazporm (ARG), Armenia’s Russian-controlled natural gas operator as compensation for gas which it supplied to unsecured families.
Tens of thousands of low-income families in Armenia enjoy a 30-percent discount on natural gas from April 2011. The discount will be in effect until March 31, 2013. Families which use less than 300 cubic meters of gas a month pay 100 drams per one cubic meter. Other consumers pay 132 drams.
Energy and natural resources minister Armen Movsisyan told a Cabinet session today the money to be paid to ARG has generated as profit of energy companies.
Prime minister Tigran Sargsyan said the government should substantially increase targeted assistance to vulnerable families in 2013-2014.
"Our social policy has changed over the latest years. We do not increase social benefits - instead we provide the means to allow these people to get education and jobs, " he said.
Currently, negotiations are underway with Russian Gazprom to revise the prices of gas supplied to Armenia. According to media stories, from 1 April 2013 the price of 1,000 cubic meters will rise from $180 to $240. -0-
18:36 07.03.2013
