ArmInfo.If Russian gas fell in price, in general, then for Armenia it should become cheaper, in particular. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo, an expert at the Armenian Institute of International Relations and Security, Ruben Megrabyan.
"Raising the issue of expediency of lowering gas prices for Armenia, our leadership acted quite logically. Russian gas should not cost our consumers more than it costs Europe's consumers. Raising this question, Yerevan hopes for Moscow to display a sober logic. It awaits its decision on based on real, existing numbers, not ambitions, "he said.
Last week, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan sent a letter to Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller with a proposal to start negotiations on reducing gas prices due to the negative impact of coronavirus on the country's socio-economic development. At the same time, Yerevan offers Moscow the opportunity to pay in national currency, that is, in rubles. Armenia buys gas from Russia at $ 165 per 1,000 cubic meters, while Armenian consumers pay Gazprom Armenia $ 290 per 1,000 cubic meters.
The very next day, Gazprom Armenia CJSC published a release about plans to apply to the Public Services Regulatory Commission with a proposal starting July 1 to increase the tariff for subscribers who consume up to 600 cubic meters of gas per year who are eligible for family or social benefits, from 100 to 135 , 9 thousand drams. It is proposed to lower the price for subscribers using up to 10 thousand cubic meters of gas annually from 139 to 135.9 thousand drams.
Containing the intention not only not to lower, but also to increase gas tariffs, Gazprom's response to this proposal, Mehrabyan assesses as extremely politicized. And if implemented, the Russian allies of Armenia should remember the sufficient degree of complexity of the Armenian-Russian relations. And of course, remember that Armenia needs Russia no more than Russia itself needs Armenia. In his opinion, Yerevan today has every opportunity to conduct a dialogue with Moscow at a similar level in the direction of achieving reasonable decisions based on its own interests.
According to the AMIMOB expert, such a policy should be accompanied by radical changes in the vectors of the energy security strategy of Armenia. In particular, in the direction of diversifying gas supplies to Armenia through negotiations with Iran. Megrabyan considers the creation and development of renewable energy sources to be the most important tool for reducing Armenia's energy dependence on Russia.
