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Armenian opposition MP says gas deal with Russia "economic sabotage"
Arminfo, Yerevan
7 Apr 06
"The agreement between the Armenian government and Russia's Gazprom is
an act of economic sabotage against the people," the deputy chairman
of the National Unity Party, Agasi Arshakyan, has told Arminfo news
agency.
He said he was certain that Armenia will spend the funds received for
the fifth unit of the Razdan thermal power plant on containing the
rise of tariffs for the Armenian consumers, and that the 140m dollars
of investments envisaged by the project will be allocated from the
profits of the Russian side.
"Armenia will pay 110 dollars for each 1,000 cu.m. of gas, which means
that Russia will return the 243m dollars it paid," the MP said. Soon
the price for the Armenian consumers will be set at 68 drams per one
cu.m., but "this price will not last more than a year", he said.
Arshakyan noted that Armenia discussed an Iranian offer of barter
supplies of gas in exchange for electricity from the fifth unit of
Razdan at the rate of 3 kW per one cu.m. of gas in December
2005. "Iranian gas is 20 per cent more efficient than Russia's and for
one cu.m. of Iranian gas Armenia could obtain no fewer than 5
kW. Hence, Armenia could leave itself around 2.5 kW from each cu.m. of
Iranian gas," Arshakyan said. He assured that the fifth unit of the
Razdan power station could work without significant investments for
around ten years at the capacity of 445 MW.
"I do not believe that Iran gave up the project," Arshakyan said and
added that "Russia does have influence over Iran, but we should be
able to demonstrate independence in something at least".
Arminfo, Yerevan
7 Apr 06
"The agreement between the Armenian government and Russia's Gazprom is
an act of economic sabotage against the people," the deputy chairman
of the National Unity Party, Agasi Arshakyan, has told Arminfo news
agency.
He said he was certain that Armenia will spend the funds received for
the fifth unit of the Razdan thermal power plant on containing the
rise of tariffs for the Armenian consumers, and that the 140m dollars
of investments envisaged by the project will be allocated from the
profits of the Russian side.
"Armenia will pay 110 dollars for each 1,000 cu.m. of gas, which means
that Russia will return the 243m dollars it paid," the MP said. Soon
the price for the Armenian consumers will be set at 68 drams per one
cu.m., but "this price will not last more than a year", he said.
Arshakyan noted that Armenia discussed an Iranian offer of barter
supplies of gas in exchange for electricity from the fifth unit of
Razdan at the rate of 3 kW per one cu.m. of gas in December
2005. "Iranian gas is 20 per cent more efficient than Russia's and for
one cu.m. of Iranian gas Armenia could obtain no fewer than 5
kW. Hence, Armenia could leave itself around 2.5 kW from each cu.m. of
Iranian gas," Arshakyan said. He assured that the fifth unit of the
Razdan power station could work without significant investments for
around ten years at the capacity of 445 MW.
"I do not believe that Iran gave up the project," Arshakyan said and
added that "Russia does have influence over Iran, but we should be
able to demonstrate independence in something at least".