ArmRosgazprom didn’t send gas tariff request to Armenia’s public services regulatory commission

YEREVAN, August 15. /ARKA/. Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia didn’t receive any request from ArmRosgazprom on natural gas tariffs increase, a deputy head of the Commission Shiraz Kirakosyan told ARKA Wednesday.

“If the company makes such request, we will consider it within 90 days and will either approve or reject it.,” Kirakosyan noted.

He also highlighted that the Commission’s decision depends on whether Russia will change the price of its natural gas exported to Armenia. If this happens the request will not be rejected. 

“If the cost of the gas imported to Armenia changes, the gas tariff will be reviewed,” he clarified. 

According some speculations in media, natural gas price in Armenia may rise to $280 per 1,000 cubic meters from 1 October 2012, and $320 per 1,000 cubic meters from 1 January 2012. Currently, Armenia buys gas for $180 per 1,000 cubic meters from Gazprom.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan said Russia and Armenia have reached mutual understanding over the price for Russia’s natural gas being exported to Armenia following the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, August 8. Sargsyan highlighted that the price should be set with taking into account the real market price multiplied or divided into the necessity of providing Armenia with natural gas at a price commeasurable with regional prices as well as the necessity to maintain Armenian economy’s effectiveness.

ArmRosgazprom is the only company dealing with import and distribution of Russian natural gas coming to Armenia from Russia via Georgia. It was established in 1997. Russian Gazprom holds more than 80 percent in it, the rest is owned by Armenian government. -0-