ArmInfo. Unlike its predecessors, the current Armenian government does not have a personal interest in negotiations with Gazprom. We have repeatedly had the opportunity to make sure that the previous authorities had a similar personal interest in pricing natural gas for our consumers. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo economist Vahagn Khachatryan.
"I am convinced that our authorities are negotiating with the sole purpose of achieving an acceptable gas price for our citizens and entrepreneurs. The government will do everything to protect the interests of citizens. And even if the gas price increases, the government should convince us of the advisability of this. It should also it should be very clear that maintaining the existing tariffs should not take place at the expense of the dignity of our state, "he stressed.
At the same time, the economist assesses the situation in which the PSRC presents the application of Gazprom Armenia CJSC as an accomplished fact, while there is no such application yet, as quite strange. According to him, such "preparation" is unacceptable, since it creates a rather tense general situation in society.
According to Khachatryan's assumptions, the discussion of domestic gas tariffs in the face of changes in the cost at the border may be due to the relevant agreement reached last year. At the same time, the economist is convinced that in reality, de facto, Armenia is provided with gas by only one company - PJSC Gazprom, since Gazprom Armenia is its 100% subsidiary. And the cost of gas supplied to the end user is not $ 165 - at the border, but $ 290 per 1000 cubic meters.
At the same time, Khachatryan noted that the year 2019 was the year of receiving the lowest profit for Gazprom Armenia over the past 10 years. According to him, in response to his request for a possible accumulation of gas debt by the state as a result of price increases at the border from $ 150 to $ 165 per 1,000 cubic meters. m. from PSRC received a response that the preservation of tariffs for consumers took place solely due to the saving of resources of Gazprom Armenia.
As a problem pedaling in negotiations with the government of Gazprom Armenia, the economist noted the presence of investment programs, the refusal to implement which will affect the overall efficiency of the system. Moreover, according to his estimates, this problem has a second side, in particular, the validity of such investments.
"In the past, we came across a program of universal gasification of the country. However, later it suddenly became clear that the volume of gas consumed from this practically did not increase. Moreover, from 2017 to 2019 they were constantly falling. Thus, additional costs for gasification were laid down in tariff, however, in the absence of an increase in the number of consumers, these costs burden already existing subscribers, "he said.
The economist estimates this situation as the result of illiterate management. In this light, Gazprom Armenia, in his opinion, should completely change its approaches to long-term programs. Of course, together with the PSRC, which is to consider the "sensational" application.
Answering the question of MP Arman Babajanyan about the likelihood of rising gas prices addressed to the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on January 22, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan noted that there have been and will be many discussions on this subject. "Gazprom insists on an investment program. Settlements are made for 10 years. Of course, there are disagreements. We do not exclude that an application will be submitted after April 1. Answers to all questions will be received when the application is submitted, and then we will give our arguments. If it turns out that the margin between the price at the border and the tariff is inflated or not justified, it is unlikely that the tariff will be approved, "said the Deputy Prime Minister.
