ArmInfo.No response has yet been received from the Russian side. Similarly, RA Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan commented on numerous questions voiced during the press conference by journalists regarding the letter sent to the Russian Prime Minister Alexey Miller by the Prime Minister yesterday, with a proposal to discuss the issue of lowering the price of gas imported by the country.
<In my opinion, this is due to weekends and working days in the Russian Federation. And in this regard, I believe that we will get the answer a little later>, he said.
Regarding the settlement of energy resources in national currency, Mher Grigoryan noted that this issue is regularly discussed at the EAEU site, not only with Armenia, but also with other member countries. <It is clear that from an economic point of view, it will be more beneficial for the importing country to make settlements in local currencies, or for the country from which energy is imported. Firstly, because of currency fluctuations, well, because energy resources make up a significant share in the overall structure of trade. And if we want to increase the volume of payments in national currency in the EAEU, which will be beneficial for all parties, then it is necessary to start negotiations on the energy resources>, he said, emphasizing that we are talking not only about gas, but also other types of fuel, imported from the Russian Federation.
"Our desire is to bring the EAEU to common standards," he added. In this regard, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that this issue is being intensively discussed. Regarding bilateral relations (with the Russian Federation), he emphasized that such discussions today exist solely in the form of a proposal from the Armenian side.
To recall, earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, on behalf of the Government, wrote to the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, in writing with a proposal to start new negotiations on changing the price of gas supplied to Armenia. This appeal is due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the socio-economic development of countries. It was also voiced a proposal to establish the possibility of settlements for imported gas in national currencies.
However, the very next day, Gazprom Armenia CJSC published a release about plans to apply to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) 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 entitled to 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. We add that the Armenian government subsidizes the gas tariff for socially vulnerable segments of the population.
