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Interview with Armen Movsisyan, minister of energy and natural resources, on gas
Mr. Movsisyan, an opinion was expressed at the National Assembly that
gas price goes up due to the faulty policy of the government. What are
your thoughts on this opinion?
Does it mean that all the governments except for that of Russia were
faulty, yes? That opinion means this. I don't think one can agree with
this opinion because the Republic of Armenia buys gas at the cheapest
price in the region. If the government were faulty, I don't think the
price would be the cheapest.
The Armenian side has made a lot of concessions to Russia over the
past decade, donated lands, now they again boost the price of gas.
Did we give them away for free?
Almost.
I don't think so. How can the price be higher compared with the region
if we get it the cheapest? If we compare with Georgia, there is a
difference, Georgia has a transit pipeline, Georgia gets lots of cheap
gas for transit. We don't have such an advantage due to our
geographical position. Even in this case we buy gas more cheaply than
Georgia.
Why don't we import gas from Iran?
If you remember, with Iran it is not sale but barter. This is another
issue, we don't have such capacity to import the required amount of
gas from Iran. The width of Iran-Armenia pipeline is sufficient, one
day or another, in case of a force majeure, it will fully supply the
demand of Armenia. The price of gas is another issue. Iran does not
offer a cheaper price for gas than Russians because the prices at
which Iran sells gas to Turkey and others is higher, about 370
dollars.
The press reported regularly that the price of gas will go up, and it
will be announced after the election.
It has nothing to do with the elections. We all know that the price of
gas will grow. It is not the final price, several years later the gas
price will be reviewed. Energy prices never drop, they always tend to
grow. These discussions began long before the elections, we agreed
with Russia on 180 dollars for Armenia, now we will finish the
negotiations, and the prices will be decided, the opportunities will
be considered. The negotiations are not over, today it was fixed in
the result of negotiations that we will get it at the cheapest prices.
But this is not the end, negotiations continue, and we will have a say
some time later. This has nothing to do with the elections, I say this
is a process that started 3 years ago.
However, two months ago Serzh Sargsyan dismissed rumors on gas price.
The price has not gone up, whatever is said now is rumors. As soon as
the sale price grows, it will be clear.
You just said the price will grow up, now you say it's a rumor.
I said the tendency is to grow. Certainly, we are not negotiating
reduction. If we are offered a cheap option, we will raise our hands
and stop negotiations, say yes. We have assessed the effect of
increase on each sphere.
According to customs reports, the gas price went up in the third
quarter of 2011.
I repeat we have been paying 180 dollars per 1000 cu m so far. Did you hear me?
Roza Hovhannisyan
14:50 21/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/country/view/29933
Interview with Armen Movsisyan, minister of energy and natural resources, on gas
Mr. Movsisyan, an opinion was expressed at the National Assembly that
gas price goes up due to the faulty policy of the government. What are
your thoughts on this opinion?
Does it mean that all the governments except for that of Russia were
faulty, yes? That opinion means this. I don't think one can agree with
this opinion because the Republic of Armenia buys gas at the cheapest
price in the region. If the government were faulty, I don't think the
price would be the cheapest.
The Armenian side has made a lot of concessions to Russia over the
past decade, donated lands, now they again boost the price of gas.
Did we give them away for free?
Almost.
I don't think so. How can the price be higher compared with the region
if we get it the cheapest? If we compare with Georgia, there is a
difference, Georgia has a transit pipeline, Georgia gets lots of cheap
gas for transit. We don't have such an advantage due to our
geographical position. Even in this case we buy gas more cheaply than
Georgia.
Why don't we import gas from Iran?
If you remember, with Iran it is not sale but barter. This is another
issue, we don't have such capacity to import the required amount of
gas from Iran. The width of Iran-Armenia pipeline is sufficient, one
day or another, in case of a force majeure, it will fully supply the
demand of Armenia. The price of gas is another issue. Iran does not
offer a cheaper price for gas than Russians because the prices at
which Iran sells gas to Turkey and others is higher, about 370
dollars.
The press reported regularly that the price of gas will go up, and it
will be announced after the election.
It has nothing to do with the elections. We all know that the price of
gas will grow. It is not the final price, several years later the gas
price will be reviewed. Energy prices never drop, they always tend to
grow. These discussions began long before the elections, we agreed
with Russia on 180 dollars for Armenia, now we will finish the
negotiations, and the prices will be decided, the opportunities will
be considered. The negotiations are not over, today it was fixed in
the result of negotiations that we will get it at the cheapest prices.
But this is not the end, negotiations continue, and we will have a say
some time later. This has nothing to do with the elections, I say this
is a process that started 3 years ago.
However, two months ago Serzh Sargsyan dismissed rumors on gas price.
The price has not gone up, whatever is said now is rumors. As soon as
the sale price grows, it will be clear.
You just said the price will grow up, now you say it's a rumor.
I said the tendency is to grow. Certainly, we are not negotiating
reduction. If we are offered a cheap option, we will raise our hands
and stop negotiations, say yes. We have assessed the effect of
increase on each sphere.
According to customs reports, the gas price went up in the third
quarter of 2011.
I repeat we have been paying 180 dollars per 1000 cu m so far. Did you hear me?
Roza Hovhannisyan
14:50 21/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/country/view/29933