AGVAN VARDANYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD HAVE GAS ALTERNATIVE TO RUSSIA
ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 26, 16:50
Despite the strategic relations with Russia, Armenia should have
gas alternative, secretary of the ARFD parliamentary faction,
Agvan Vardanyan, said at today's press-conference. When commenting
on possible sale of 20% share of the Armenian government in
"ArmRusgasprom" to the Russian "Gasprom", Vardanyan said actually
the community is not aware of what has been happening. "Public
Services Regulatory Commission has already revised the application
of "ArmRusgasprom", new gas tariffs are already functioning, the
government has already expressed readiness to subsidize 30% of growth
of gas tariffs, but the machinery of subsidizing is not clear yet", -
he said. He also added that the gas relations between Armenia and Iran
are misty. "They told us that the share of Armenia in "ArmRusgasprom"
gave nothing to us. But what shall be do next time, taking into
account that the contract was signed for a year? ", - he asked.
To recall, Armenia and Gazprom OJSC are negotiating on the sale
of Armenian Government's 20% of ArmRusgasprom's shares to Gazprom,
Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan
said. Movsisyan said the talks also cover possible achievement of
mutual arrangements on a number of other important issues for the
republic. Earlier the Armenian mass media reported that the Armenian
authorities were ready to sell the 20% of Government's shares in
ArmRusgasprom's capital to curb the gas price. On 1 April 2013 Gazprom
raised the gas price for Armenia from 180 USD to 270 USD per 1 thsd
cu m. The Armenian Government is trying to attract a grant from Russia
to compensate for the gas price by 30%.
The talks on the sale of Armenia's shares in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to
Gazprom OJSC are still going on, Armenian Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told journalists on June 19. "The
talks are still going on, there is no agreement on the price of the
shares yet, however, Armenia has received alternative offers from
other buyers", he said. The minister added that the sale of the shares
is an economic issue and it should not be connected with Armenia's
possible joining the Customs Union. When asked what the funds from
the sale will be spent on, the minister stressed that they will be
transferred to the state budget and then will be spent as needed.
To note, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom Alexey Miller and Armenian
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan held a working
meeting in Moscow on June 17. The meeting covered the ain issues of
development of the Russian-Armenian cooperation in the sphere of gas
supply, including Gazprom's participation in the energy projects of
Armenia. The sides considered the price formation for the Russian gas
for Armenia's consumers. The sides also discussed the possibility of
increasing Gazprom's share in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to 100%.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 26, 16:50
Despite the strategic relations with Russia, Armenia should have
gas alternative, secretary of the ARFD parliamentary faction,
Agvan Vardanyan, said at today's press-conference. When commenting
on possible sale of 20% share of the Armenian government in
"ArmRusgasprom" to the Russian "Gasprom", Vardanyan said actually
the community is not aware of what has been happening. "Public
Services Regulatory Commission has already revised the application
of "ArmRusgasprom", new gas tariffs are already functioning, the
government has already expressed readiness to subsidize 30% of growth
of gas tariffs, but the machinery of subsidizing is not clear yet", -
he said. He also added that the gas relations between Armenia and Iran
are misty. "They told us that the share of Armenia in "ArmRusgasprom"
gave nothing to us. But what shall be do next time, taking into
account that the contract was signed for a year? ", - he asked.
To recall, Armenia and Gazprom OJSC are negotiating on the sale
of Armenian Government's 20% of ArmRusgasprom's shares to Gazprom,
Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan
said. Movsisyan said the talks also cover possible achievement of
mutual arrangements on a number of other important issues for the
republic. Earlier the Armenian mass media reported that the Armenian
authorities were ready to sell the 20% of Government's shares in
ArmRusgasprom's capital to curb the gas price. On 1 April 2013 Gazprom
raised the gas price for Armenia from 180 USD to 270 USD per 1 thsd
cu m. The Armenian Government is trying to attract a grant from Russia
to compensate for the gas price by 30%.
The talks on the sale of Armenia's shares in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to
Gazprom OJSC are still going on, Armenian Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told journalists on June 19. "The
talks are still going on, there is no agreement on the price of the
shares yet, however, Armenia has received alternative offers from
other buyers", he said. The minister added that the sale of the shares
is an economic issue and it should not be connected with Armenia's
possible joining the Customs Union. When asked what the funds from
the sale will be spent on, the minister stressed that they will be
transferred to the state budget and then will be spent as needed.
To note, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom Alexey Miller and Armenian
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan held a working
meeting in Moscow on June 17. The meeting covered the ain issues of
development of the Russian-Armenian cooperation in the sphere of gas
supply, including Gazprom's participation in the energy projects of
Armenia. The sides considered the price formation for the Russian gas
for Armenia's consumers. The sides also discussed the possibility of
increasing Gazprom's share in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to 100%.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress