Armenia’s acting minister says no progress in talks with Russian Gazprom over natural gas price
21.11.2018,
15:29
Armenia’s acting Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Garegin Baghramyan said today that the price of natural gas for households and other consumers would be reduced in case of successful negotiations among the countries involved in the shipment of gas to Armenia.
YEREVAN, November 21. /ARKA/. Armenia’s acting Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Garegin Baghramyan said today that the price of natural gas for households and other consumers would be reduced in case of successful negotiations among the countries involved in the shipment of gas to Armenia.
Speaking at a news conference he said the price of Russian gas shipped to Armenia differs from the price of gas shipped to other member countries of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), particularly, Belarus because of payments for its transit through the territory of Georgia.
He said although Armenia is not involved in the Russian-Georgian talks on the transportation of gas to Armenia, there is hope that a decision would be adopted that would benefit Armenian consumers.
He said Armenia is in talks also with Russian Gazprom and the Russian Ministry of Energy, but so far no progress has been made.
During a September 8 meeting in the Kremlin Armenia’s acting prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to look into the pricing of Russian gas delivered to Armenia. The Russian natural gas is delivered to Armenia by Gazprom at a $150 per one thousand cubic meters, but Gazprom’s Armenian subsidiary - Gazprom Armenia - sells it to Armenian households at almost $300.
Prior to the Pashinyan-Putin talk, Putin told journalists that Gazprom delivers natural gas to Armenia at $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, the lowest price offered by Gazprom in the world. Putin also recalled that Russia is Armenia’s biggest investor.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, in 2017 deliveries of Russian natural gas to Armenia increased by 7% to 1 billion and 996 million cubic meters and deliveries of natural gas from Iran grew by 2.9% to 382 million and 700 thousand cubic meters. The total gas consumption in Armenia in 2017 increased by 5.3%. Today, as part of gas for electricity swap deal Armenia converts the Iranian gas into electricity and ships it back to Iran. -0-
Speaking at a news conference he said the price of Russian gas shipped to Armenia differs from the price of gas shipped to other member countries of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), particularly, Belarus because of payments for its transit through the territory of Georgia.
He said although Armenia is not involved in the Russian-Georgian talks on the transportation of gas to Armenia, there is hope that a decision would be adopted that would benefit Armenian consumers.
He said Armenia is in talks also with Russian Gazprom and the Russian Ministry of Energy, but so far no progress has been made.
During a September 8 meeting in the Kremlin Armenia’s acting prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to look into the pricing of Russian gas delivered to Armenia. The Russian natural gas is delivered to Armenia by Gazprom at a $150 per one thousand cubic meters, but Gazprom’s Armenian subsidiary - Gazprom Armenia - sells it to Armenian households at almost $300.
Prior to the Pashinyan-Putin talk, Putin told journalists that Gazprom delivers natural gas to Armenia at $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, the lowest price offered by Gazprom in the world. Putin also recalled that Russia is Armenia’s biggest investor.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, in 2017 deliveries of Russian natural gas to Armenia increased by 7% to 1 billion and 996 million cubic meters and deliveries of natural gas from Iran grew by 2.9% to 382 million and 700 thousand cubic meters. The total gas consumption in Armenia in 2017 increased by 5.3%. Today, as part of gas for electricity swap deal Armenia converts the Iranian gas into electricity and ships it back to Iran. -0-
